Haiti’s Armed Neighborhood Groups
Haiti’s Armed Neighborhood Groups  
Podcast: History of the Caribbeans | Exploring Resilience and Culture
Published On: Thu Feb 05 2026
Description: The Evolution of the Streets: Haiti’s Neighborhood Groups In this episode of THE HISTORY OF THE CARIBBEAN, we trace the complex and harrowing evolution of armed groups in Haiti. This is not a story of random chaos, but a systematic history of power, betrayal, and the vacuum left by a retreating state. Since the collapse of the Duvalier regime in nineteen eighty six, the line between community defense and organized control has been blurred. From the remnants of the Tonton Macoute to the rise of political "chimères" and today’s powerful federations, we examine how these groups moved from the shadows to the center of national power. We look beyond the headlines to understand the true cost of this history: the impact on the families, the markets, and the social fabric of Port-au-Prince. This is a documentary-grade look at how neighborhood survival transformed into a struggle for the nation’s soul. In this episode: The Power Vacuum: How the end of a dictatorship left an armed legacy in the streets. The Political Leash: The era of the "chimères" and the dangerous bond between the palace and the slums. The Modern Federation: The rise of organized alliances and the twenty twenty six reality of the "Bwa Kale" movement. Join us as we explore the history that shaped the present. #HaitiHistory #CaribbeanHistory #Documentary #Haiti #HistoryOfTheCaribbean