Haiti's national police are facing growing criticism after an armed gang attack on August 23 in the community of Kenscoff, on the outskirts of the capital Port-au-Prince, left 47 people dead and more than 50 kidnapped. The incident is considered one of the largest mass kidnappings in the Caribbean nation's recent history.
Speaking at a press conference on August 28, police spokesman Garry Desrosiers declined to provide details on the response plan, only saying that authorities were working to bring hundreds of displaced residents back home. "We cannot discuss any plan," Desrosiers said, while confirming that a gang leader had threatened to execute all hostages if any group member was killed in the operation to regain control of Kenscoff.
Kenscoff, located in the hills outside the capital, had been seen as a bright spot, with violence down 66% between January and August compared with the same period last year, according to the nonprofit conflict monitor ACLED. However, the United Nations has warned that gang-related violence is "spreading geographically" even as the government intensifies its anti-gang campaign in Port-au-Prince.
The UN estimates more than 3,050 people have been killed across Haiti from January to June. "These figures show that people continue to suffer unacceptable consequences of violence," stressed UN representative in Haiti, Carlos Ruiz Massieu.
Violence has escalated since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021, leaving a power vacuum. Haiti has not held elections since then, and the terms of the last senators expired in 2023. A general election is scheduled for December but remains at risk of being delayed due to security instability.
Approximately 70% of Port-au-Prince is now under gang control, with more than 1.5 million people displaced. A UN-backed special anti-gang task force began deploying in April, expected to replace a financially struggling multinational security mission led by Kenya. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed optimism, saying the deployment "offers a real opportunity to contain violence and restore state authority," but observers say international efforts so far have not shown clear results.
Haitian police have also faced allegations of corruption, incompetence, and instances of complicity with gangs. National police director Vladimir Paraison, who was absent from the press conference, defended the force and said an investigation is underway to determine whether the incident occurred due to "complicity or negligence."
