Seven Killed and Dozens Injured in Haiti as Gangs Open Fire on Churchgoers
At least seven people were killed and several others wounded in Haiti after a powerful gang controlling a suburb of the capital, Port-au-Prince, opened fire with machine guns on a protest organized by a Christian church leader. The incident occurred as churchgoers marched through the community on Saturday in an attempt to rid the area of gang members.
The Haitian rights group CARDH, directed by Gedeon Jean, warned that the final death toll could be higher, adding that some participants had been kidnapped during the attack. Local media reports indicate that at least 10 participants lost their lives.
Videos shared on social media platform X/Twitter depicted approximately 100 individuals, many of whom were wearing yellow shirts associated with the religious group of Pastor Marco, marching in the suburb of Canaan, some armed with sticks and machetes. Canaan is currently under the control of a gang led by an individual known only as Jeff, who is believed to be allied with the notorious “5 Seconds” gang.
The power of these gangs has significantly increased since the assassination of Haiti’s president, Jovenel Moïse, in July 2021. It is estimated that these criminal organizations now control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince.
Gédéon Jean, the director of Haiti’s Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights, criticized the pastor for being irresponsible and placing people in a dangerous situation. He called for an investigation into the incident by the justice ministry.
Jean also highlighted the absence of police intervention, stating that authorities should have prevented the march from taking place. He described the situation as “extremely horrible” and urged the state to take responsibility.
The violence in Haiti has reached alarming levels, with more than 2,400 reported deaths, over 950 kidnappings, and 902 injuries between January and August, according to the United Nations. In response to the surge in gang violence, Haitians initiated a violent movement in April known as “what else” which targets suspected gang members. The UN estimates that over 350 people have been killed since the uprising began.
In October, the Haitian government requested the immediate deployment of a foreign armed force to address the escalating gang violence. Kenya has offered to lead a multinational force, with a delegation of top officials visiting Haiti recently for a reconnaissance mission. The United States has expressed willingness to introduce a UN security council resolution authorizing Kenya to take action in response to the crisis.
The Haitian national police have not yet issued a statement regarding the incident.