For eight straight days, Kenscoff, a previously safe and affluent neighborhood in Haiti, has been subjected to terror by armed gangs. These attacks have resulted in the death of a minimum of 40 individuals and the displacement of more than 1,660 residents. Kenscoff is located just about six miles southeast of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Mayor Jean Massillon briefed the media about the ongoing attacks on Kenscoff on Monday, February 3, 2025. He attributed the violence to the Viv Ansanm gang coalition. The gang members have been going from one house to another, firing their weapons without any discretion, Massillon reveals.
Massillon further disclosed that the area is still under siege and made a call for additional reinforcements. The dead include pastors, teachers, and children. The actual number of casualties may be higher as authorities have been unable to reach some parts of the neighborhood, which houses many politicians and business leaders.
A significant number of the victims are working-class residents who farm on the fringes of the neighborhood, located in the foothills of a mountain range.
The police union has expressed its disapproval of the government’s response to the Kenscoff attack, arguing that the situation could have been avoided if the police had been provided with adequate resources and equipment. They further criticized the national police for their poor planning and coordination, which have hindered efforts to safeguard residents, while gangs have taken control over parts of the neighborhood.
This recent attack follows a brutal massacre that occurred in December in the Cité Soleil district of Port-au-Prince. Over 180 people were killed in the massacre orchestrated by gang leader Micanor “Mikanò” Altès. Human rights observers reported that Micanor shot and killed at least 60 elderly individuals on the first day and murdered at least 50 more with machetes and knives the following day. The Wharf Jérémie area remains under siege, with elderly residents and Voodoo practitioners being specifically targeted.
In 2024, the UN Human Rights Office recorded unprecedented levels of gang violence in Haiti, with 5,601 people killed and 2,212 injured across the country. The office also documented 315 lynchings of suspected gang members and 281 alleged summary executions by specialized police units during the year.
International efforts to quell the violence include a UN-backed mission involving more than 600 Kenyan police officers, recently joined by 70 Salvadoran soldiers. The soldiers are providing air support expertise, which Kenyan officials believe will be crucial for medical evacuations. Personnel from Jamaica and Guatemala have also joined the mission, although the force remains understaffed and poorly equipped.
The violence has led to the displacement of over a million people, with a 87% increase in displacement in Port-au-Prince between 2023 and 2024. Half of the displaced individuals are children now facing serious health and protection challenges in rural areas with limited resources. Gangs now control 85% of Port-au-Prince, causing disruptions in healthcare services and the closure of the international airport. A recent attack during the reopening of a public hospital resulted in the death of two reporters and a police officer.
The United Nations secretary-general has issued a warning that without further international support, Port-au-Prince might soon be completely under gang control. He emphasized the urgent need for strengthening Haiti’s national police and multinational forces as the violence continues to spread to areas previously unaffected.
