Viv Ansanm Gang Coalition Announces Plans to Form Political Party for August 2026 Elections

Leaders of the Viv Ansanm gang coalition announced their intention to form a political party and seek participation in Haiti's August 2026 elections, in a move widely interpreted as an attempt to gain amnesty and political legitimacy. The announcement followed the CEP's opening of party registration and drew immediate criticism from Haitian civil society groups, who argued it would normalize gang rule and violate the rights of victims. Viv Ansanm — which comprises dozens of armed groups controlling 85–90% of Port-au-Prince — is designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States and has been sanctioned by the UN Security Council. The U.S. State Department's Rewards for Justice program is offering $3 million for information disrupting the coalition's financial networks.