Haiti’s PM reiterates no negotiations with criminal gangs. 

Detected Manipulations & Suggested Changes

Unbalanced reporting

Presenting one side’s perspective in detail while giving little or no space to other relevant perspectives.

The article gives extensive space to the Haitian government’s position and actions: - “Prime Minister of Haiti Alix Didier Fils-Aimé says the country will not negotiate with criminal gangs that are seeking to overthrow the provisional government…” - “The Government’s fight is against gangs. The Government’s fight is to secure the country. The state will not compromise. The state will not negotiate with criminals,” Fils-Aimé said… - Detailed description of the visit to PNH headquarters, the role of PNH, FAd’H, FRG, and the US donation of 25 armoured personnel carriers. By contrast, there is no direct representation of perspectives from: - Communities affected by both gang violence and security-force operations - Human rights groups or local civil society - Any intermediaries or analysts who might question or support the ‘no negotiations’ stance. The gangs are only described via official labels (“criminal gangs”, “armed criminal groups that threaten national security”) without any independent description of their composition, motives, or the debate around negotiation vs. purely military approaches.

3 suggestions

Include perspectives from Haitian civil society, human rights organizations, or community leaders on the government’s ‘no negotiations’ stance and the security offensive.

Add expert or academic commentary on the effectiveness and risks of a no‑negotiation policy with armed groups in similar contexts, to balance the official narrative.

Clarify that the description of gangs as ‘criminal’ and ‘threatening national security’ is the government’s and/or UN’s characterization, and, where possible, reference independent reports that substantiate or nuance this characterization.

Omission of key information

Leaving out relevant context that would help readers fully understand the situation or evaluate claims.

Several important contextual elements are missing or only briefly implied: 1. On the ‘no negotiations’ policy: - The article reports: “The state will not compromise. The state will not negotiate with criminals,” but does not mention whether there have been previous attempts at dialogue, ceasefires, or community-level negotiations, or why these are being rejected. - There is no discussion of alternative policy options being debated in Haiti (e.g., disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration, or community-based approaches). 2. On the security offensive and foreign support: - The article notes: “donation of 25 armoured personnel carriers intended to strengthen operational capabilities…” and that PNH, FAd’H and FRG are “jointly engaged in an offensive against armed criminal groups that threaten national security.” - It omits any mention of concerns that have been raised in other reporting about potential human rights abuses, civilian casualties, or accountability mechanisms for security forces. 3. On the humanitarian crisis: - The article states: “Haiti remains in a severe crisis, dominated by rampant gang violence, political instability and humanitarian disaster…” and lists impacts (sexual violence, hunger, displacement). - It does not explain how current government policies, international interventions, or past political decisions have contributed to or might alleviate these conditions, leaving the causal picture incomplete.

3 suggestions

Add background on previous or proposed negotiation efforts with armed groups in Haiti, including why the current government rejects them and what critics or supporters say.

Include information on oversight and accountability for the PNH, FAd’H, and FRG operations, including any safeguards to protect civilians and any documented abuses, with sources.

Provide more context on the roots of the humanitarian crisis (e.g., political history, economic factors, previous international interventions) and how current policies are expected to change these dynamics, citing independent analyses.

Selective use of sources

Relying mainly on official or aligned sources while excluding other relevant or dissenting voices.

The article’s sources are almost exclusively official and institutional: - Haitian government: Prime Minister Fils-Aimé, Minister of Justice and Public Security, Secretary of State for Public Security, Acting Director General of PNH, High Command of the National Police. - International institutions: “United Nations officials say that security alone won’t fix Haiti…” - Regional leaders: “In his end of year message, outgoing Caricom Chairman and Prime Minister Andrew Holness said…” There are no quotes or references from: - Haitian opposition figures or independent political analysts - Local NGOs, human rights groups, or community organizations - Residents of affected neighborhoods This creates a narrative dominated by state and international institutional perspectives, which can skew readers’ understanding even if each quoted statement is accurate.

3 suggestions

Incorporate at least one or two perspectives from Haitian civil society organizations, community leaders, or independent analysts on the security strategy and the 2026 elections plan.

If opposition parties or critics have publicly responded to the government’s ‘no negotiations’ stance or the international security mission, summarize their positions with attribution.

Clarify in the text that the article is primarily reporting official statements and that other perspectives exist, even if they cannot all be included, and link or refer to additional coverage where those views are presented.

Biased language (mild, via un-attributed labels)

Using value-laden terms without clearly attributing them to a source, which can implicitly endorse one side’s framing.

The article repeatedly uses terms such as: - “criminal gangs that are seeking to overthrow the provisional government” - “armed criminal groups that threaten national security” While these descriptions may be accurate and are consistent with official characterizations, they are not always explicitly attributed to a specific speaker or document. This can subtly align the article’s voice with the government’s framing, rather than clearly distinguishing between reporting and quoting. By contrast, other actors (e.g., the government, international bodies) are described in neutral institutional terms, which can reinforce an asymmetry in how sides are framed.

3 suggestions

Where such terms are used, explicitly attribute them, e.g., “which the government describes as ‘criminal gangs’ seeking to overthrow the provisional government” or “armed groups that, according to authorities, threaten national security.”

Add references to independent reports (e.g., UN, reputable NGOs) that document the criminal activities and political aims of these groups, so the labels are supported by evidence rather than only official rhetoric.

Balance the framing by also briefly noting how some local observers or analysts may describe these groups (e.g., as armed political actors, community-based militias, or criminal-political networks), with clear sourcing.

Oversimplification

Presenting a complex situation in a way that suggests simple causes or solutions, without reflecting its full complexity.

The article presents a relatively linear narrative: - Government position: no negotiations, focus on security and offensive operations. - International view: “security alone won’t fix Haiti; political solutions, elections and economic support are crucial.” - Plan: “2026 will be dedicated to organising general elections and renewing political personnel and republican institutions.” This can imply that the path to stability is primarily a combination of security operations plus elections and economic support. It does not address: - Deep-rooted structural issues (corruption, impunity, state capture, economic inequality) - The complex relationship between political elites and armed groups - The risks that elections held under heavy insecurity and displacement may not be fully free or fair. While brevity is understandable in a news piece, the result is a somewhat simplified picture of what is required to resolve Haiti’s crisis.

3 suggestions

Briefly acknowledge that experts warn elections under current conditions may face serious challenges (e.g., security, displacement, voter registration), citing specific analyses.

Note that many analysts see links between political actors and armed groups, and that addressing these relationships is part of any durable solution, with references.

Clarify that the measures described (security operations, elections, economic support) are part of a broader, complex process, and that there is debate about their sequencing and sufficiency.