2026-01-07

Port-au-Prince has experienced 23 consecutive days without major gang violence from December 21 through January 7, the longest pause in 2025. Gangs displaced 1,052 people in Montrouis, Artibonite on December 23 during the Port-au-Prince pause, demonstrating continued peripheral offensive operations. The geographic selectivity of violence indicates gangs are withholding capital violence as leverage for February 7 amnesty negotiations per Crisis Group December 15 analysis. Gangs control 80-90 percent of Port-au-Prince per MOPAL January 4, meaning the 23-day pause represents strategic choice not operational incapacity. Expect pause to end in late January 20-31 period depending on whether government signals amnesty negotiation openness or maintains no-negotiations doctrine.