Haiti: Gang Releases 13 Hostages After Mass Kidnapping in Kenscoff
Al Jazeera Staff
The UN confirmed that six children and seven women kidnapped in Kenscoff, Haiti last week have been freed. The attack, which left at least 47 dead and more than 50 kidnapped, has drawn international condemnation and calls for immediate release of remaining hostages.
The United Nations reported on August 29 that six children and seven women kidnapped last week in the Kenscoff community of Haiti have been released. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) described this as a "rare moment of hope" amid a wave of violence threatening children in the Caribbean nation.
Yannig Dussart, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Haiti, stressed that the Kenscoff kidnapping was "not an isolated incident" but a reminder of the scale and frequency of attacks targeting children across the country.
Attack Details
The mass abduction occurred on the night of August 23, when around 150 gang gunmen attacked Kenscoff, a mountainous area overlooking the capital Port-au-Prince and the suburb of Petionville. According to a UN report, the gunmen fired at residents on the streets and chased some into a nearby Protestant church.
Those sheltering inside were forced out, with some attempting to flee. The UN estimates that 22 people were killed in the church courtyard and 12 others behind the building. In total, at least 47 people died, more than 50 were kidnapped, 2,647 residents were displaced, and several homes were burned.
Haiti's Crisis Background
Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, has been mired in escalating violence since the early 2020s. Following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, the nation plunged into a prolonged political crisis. The Senate, the last elected body, ended its term in 2023. The most recent presidential election took place in 2016.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned in 2024, and a Transitional Council established afterward also dissolved before organizing elections. General elections are slated for December 2025 after multiple delays.
According to the UN, gangs control up to 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The violence has displaced approximately 1.47 million people as of May 2025. Between April and June 2025 alone, 1,408 people were killed, 656 were injured, and 326 cases of sexual violence were recorded.
Government Response
The Haitian government declared that "all security forces are on the highest alert" following the attack, deploying additional troops to Kenscoff. Some gang members have threatened on social media to execute hostages if security operations continue.
During an emergency UN Security Council meeting on August 29, Special Envoy Carlos Ruiz Massieu called for the "immediate and unconditional release of all those kidnapped, including women and children." He stressed that this massacre was "not an isolated tragedy" but a "direct challenge to state authority."
