Haitian law enforcement apprehends a past senator, suspected of collaboration with criminal bands, for launching an assault on a tranquil neighborhood.
In the troubled nation of Haiti, the situation regarding gang violence has reached a critical point. According to the United Nations, more than 5,600 people were reported killed last year, with over a million people left homeless due to gang violence in recent years [1]. The second quarter of 2025 saw at least 1,520 people killed and 609 injured, primarily in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, including Kenscoff, as well as in the Centre and Artibonite departments [1].
Kenscoff, a region previously untouched by the widespread violence, has seen a significant escalation since February 2025. Violent attacks by gangs resulted in dozens of deaths, drastically changing the security situation to one of high instability [3]. The violence involves widespread serious human rights abuses such as murders, kidnappings, gang rapes, sexual slavery, and child exploitation by criminal groups seeking control over territories [1].
The situation in Kenscoff has remained particularly volatile, with intensified armed violence causing residents to flee their homes [1][2]. High-level officials, including a former senator, have been implicated in cooperating with these gangs [3]. The arrest of Nenel Cassy, a former Haitian senator, in Petionville, a wealthy district of Port-au-Prince, underscores this concern [1]. Cassy was charged with conspiring against the state and financing criminal organizations [3].
The United Nations mission in Haiti (BINUH) urges the Haitian government, with international support, to strengthen the fight against gangs through specialized judicial units, police vetting, and protection of civilians while ensuring respect for human rights and reducing arms trafficking [1]. The crisis has also impacted humanitarian organisations, such as Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos (NPH), which announced the closure of two hospitals it runs in Haiti until the people taken from its orphanage in Kenscoff have been safely released [4]. On Sunday, nine workers, including a foreign citizen, were kidnapped from the orphanage [5].
Gangs in Haiti have been launching attacks on previously peaceful communities, subjugating people in areas under their control through kidnapping [1]. According to the United Nations, gangs control 90% of Haiti's capital [6]. The UN recorded 185 victims of kidnapping in Haiti between April and June of this year [7]. The crisis is part of a broader pattern of expanded gang violence, with serious humanitarian and human rights consequences [1].
International support and strengthened government action are urgently needed to address this crisis and restore peace and stability in Haiti. The situation in Kenscoff serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for action.
References: 1. UN News 2. Al Jazeera 3. Reuters 4. NPH Press Release 5. CNN 6. CBS News 7. BBC
- The general-news reports indicate a worsening politics situation in Haiti, as gang violence in Kenscoff has escalated, resulting in numerous deaths, displacement, and human rights abuses.
- Amidst widespread gang violence, crime-and-justice issues in Haiti have reached alarming levels, with groups controlling over 90% of the capital and the international community urging for strengthened government actions and additional support to put an end to this crisis.
