The U.S. Department of State has officially designated the criminal groups Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as Foreign Terrorist Organizations under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, as well as Executive Order 13224.
In an information sheet published this Friday, the State Department’s Bureau of Counterterrorism outlined the threat these two armed groups pose to the deterioration of security and governance in Haiti.
“Viv Ansanm is a group formed in September 2023 as a gang coalition through an alliance between the two main factions operating in Port-au-Prince: G-9 and G-Pèp,” the official statement reads.
This coalition provides a unified platform allowing these groups to use violence to destabilize Haiti, targeting efforts to restore state authority. Viv Ansanm is accused of orchestrating coordinated attacks on key infrastructure, including prisons, government buildings, and even Port-au-Prince’s international airport. These violent actions contributed to the forced resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
The second group, Gran Grif, operates primarily in the Artibonite department, a strategic agricultural region of Haiti. The State Department emphasizes:
“Gran Grif is the largest gang in the Artibonite department… Since 2022, it has been responsible for 80% of reported civilian deaths in the region.”
Gran Grif has not only attacked the Haitian National Police but also the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission authorized by the United Nations. In February 2025, its members reportedly participated in a deadly attack that claimed the life of a Kenyan MSS officer.
With these designations, all assets and properties linked to Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif that are located in the United States or under the control of an American person are now frozen. Furthermore, U.S. citizens and entities are prohibited from any trade or transactions with these groups.
“Terrorist designations expose and isolate these entities and individuals, denying them access to the U.S. financial system and the resources needed to conduct attacks,” stated the Department of State.
The U.S. government also warns that any person — including American citizens — involved in transactions or activities related to these groups risks facing secondary sanctions under anti-terrorism laws.
Providing material or logistical support to these organizations is considered a federal crime. “These designations can also aid the law enforcement actions of other U.S. agencies and foreign governments,” the statement adds.
The decision to designate the Haitian gangs as terrorist groups also served as an opportunity for the U.S. government to call on Haitian politicians to prioritize the country’s interests.
It should be noted that not long ago, the United Nations, the United States, and Canada, among others, published a list of Haitian political figures and businesspeople involved in the financing of armed gangs.
This decision could also complicate the situation of those funding the gangs.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of Haitian individuals sanctioned by Canada. Most of them also appear on lists from the United Nations and the United States:
André Apaid (businessman)
Arnel Bélizaire (former deputy)
Berto Dorcé (former minister)
Carl Braun (businessman)
Charles Saint-Rémy (businessman)
Gary Bodeau (former deputy)
Gilbert Bigio (businessman)
Gracia Delva (former senator and former deputy)
Hervé Fourcand (former senator)
Jean Marie Vorbe (businessman)
Jean-Henry Céant (former Prime Minister)
Jimmy Chérizier alias “Barbecue” (gang leader)
Jocelerme Privert (former President of the Republic)
Johnson André alias “Izo 5 Segond” (gang leader)
Joseph Lambert (former senator)
Joseph Wilson alias “Lanmò San Jou” (gang leader)
Laurent Salvador Lamothe (former Prime Minister)
Liszt Quitel (former minister)
Marc Antoine Acra (businessman)
Michel Joseph Martelly (former President of the Republic)
Nenel Cassy (former senator)
Prophane Victor (former deputy)
Reynold Deeb (businessman)
Rony Célestin (former senator)
Salim Succar (businessman)
Sherif Abdallah (businessman)
Steeve Khawly (businessman)
Vitel’homme Innocent (gang leader)
Youri Latortue (former senator)
