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By Figaro Aurélus & Stephen Baranyi
CIPS Policy Brief, July 2026

At a glance…

• To compensate for the shortcomings of national and international security forces in combating violence by armed gangs—or to defend their lives and property—members of certain communities in Haiti are organizing themselves by forming “armed self-defense groups,” also known as “vigilance brigades.” Aside from some criticism, the presence and activities of these groups appear to be tolerated by the local population. However, there is a high risk that they could evolve into armed criminal gangs.
• This report seeks to identify the best policies for state actors in Haiti to regulate self-defense groups. It draws primarily on secondary research in Haiti, Haitian studies of vigilantism, and the work of experts from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC). It then places these Haitian experiences within the broader context of a study on vigilante groups in Nigeria, Mexico, and Burkina Faso.
• On this basis, the study argues that managing self-defense groups in Haiti requires a clear strategy, including conducting an assessment of the situation and organizing a dialogue; establishing a program to manage armed groups; the establishment of a phased exit plan; and an integration process that includes combating impunity and involving the affected communities.

Figaro AURÉLUS, a senior officer with the Haitian National Police (PNH), a public safety specialist, lawyer, criminologist, and administrator who heads the National Police Academy (ANP).

Stephen BARANYI is a professor at the School of International Development and Global Studies at the University of Ottawa.