At least 20 people, including children, have tragically lost their lives following a brutal attack by an armed gang in Haiti. The assault took place in the small town of Pont-Sondé, located in the central Artibonite region, approximately 71 kilometers (44 miles) north-west of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Reports indicate that around 50 additional individuals sustained injuries as members of the Gran Grif gang unleashed chaos on the town. Eyewitness video footage captures scenes of panicked residents fleeing the violence on motorbikes and on foot. A government prosecutor has labeled the incident as nothing short of a “massacre.”
Haiti has been plagued by violence as armed gangs gain control over vast areas. A United Nations-backed policing mission commenced in June, aimed at restoring order, with officers primarily drawn from Kenya.
The precise death toll from the attack remains uncertain. Local media have cited numbers exceeding 50 fatalities, while a Haitian human rights group has verified at least 20 deaths. The Gran Grif gang is notorious for its extreme violence; it was previously implicated in an assault on a police station in January 2023, resulting in the deaths of six officers. Additionally, the gang has been linked to the forced closure of a hospital that serves over 700,000 people.
Characterized by its membership of approximately 100 individuals, the Gran Grif gang has faced accusations spanning murder, rape, robbery, and kidnapping, as outlined in a UN report. Both its founder and current leader are currently subject to US sanctions.
The recent gang violence occurs shortly after Haitian authorities expanded a state of emergency across the country. Prime Minister Garry Conille has pledged to intensify efforts to combat gang activities, with the UN advocating for a “robust use of force.” A United Nations-approved policing mission is set to deploy 2,500 officers from various nations, including 1,000 from Kenya, authorized for a duration of one year with a review scheduled after nine months.
