Gang ambush leaves 40 dead near Haiti’s capital

In the mountainous town of Kenscoff, situated in Haiti's hills above the capital, a gang ambush claimed around 40 lives. Mayor Massillon Jean reported that the attackers targeted a displaced persons camp housed in a church, executing several victims and leaving many wounded. Some individuals were even abducted. The government, through Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime, expressed profound sympathy for the bereaved families and pledged to deploy reinforcements to restore security in the area.

Kenscoff, plagued by gang violence for months, is currently experiencing a wave of clashes and incursions by armed groups seeking to assert their control. Haiti, the poorest nation in the Americas, has long endured chronic political instability, natural disasters, corruption, and gang violence, which has forced nearly 1.5 million Haitians to flee their homes.

The crisis intensified in early 2024 when gangs launched a violent campaign, leading to the resignation of the unelected prime minister. Haiti has not held a legitimate election since 2016, and its last president, Jovenel Moise, was assassinated in July 2021 without a successor. The nation is set to hold a general election in December of the current year.