More than 50 kidnapped as violent gang attack in Haiti leaves 47 dead

At least 47 people were killed and over 50 kidnapped when armed men attacked Kenscoff, a once-peaceful community near Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, earlier this week. This attack is considered one of the largest mass kidnappings in Haiti in recent years. A gang leader, known as Izo 2 or Didier, threatened to kill hostages if authorities killed any gang members while trying to secure the community nestled in the hills above Port-au-Prince.

The attack, which occurred on Sunday, shattered the belief that security in Haiti was improving. Romain Le Cour, head of the Haiti Observatory at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, stated that this incident poses a major political and security test for the government, police, and the international mission.

Marc Paul, a resident of Kenscoff, recounted how his brother, stepmother, stepfather, two cousins, and his 16-year-old niece were kidnapped, with his niece escaping and reuniting with him. The gang leader posted a video threatening Vladimir Paraison, the director of Haiti's National Police, to kill all police if any soldiers were harmed.

The attack could be an attempt to force police and the UN-backed gang suppression force to disperse resources or a message to the government and police ahead of the general elections in December. The first major attack on Kenscoff occurred in January 2025, with sporadic attacks in the surrounding hills since then.