U.S. warns of bribery attempts aimed at destabilising Haiti

The United States has warned of reported attempts to bribe Haitian officials in a bid to destabilise the country, amid growing political turmoil and gang violence.

The warning, issued Friday by the U.S. Embassy in Haiti and the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, came without further details. However, the embassy praised members of Haiti’s transitional presidential council for rejecting corruption and cooperating with Prime Minister Garry Conille to restore stability.

“We will hold accountable anyone who attempts to undermine this collaboration,” the embassy said on social media platform X.

The statement follows ongoing tensions within the council, as criminal gangs tighten their grip on Port-au-Prince and parts of central Haiti. Armed groups are now estimated to control up to 90% of the capital.

Neither the council’s members nor the U.S. Department of State responded to media queries. The office of the Haitian prime minister also declined to comment.

Online, some social media users questioned the embassy’s message, accusing certain council figures of corruption themselves.

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