Gang Attack on Kenscoff Leaves 47 Dead and Over 50 Kidnapped

At least 47 people were killed and more than 50 abducted when armed men stormed the community of Kenscoff, on the hills above Port-au-Prince, early this week, the United Nations reported on Tuesday. The assault is described as one of the largest mass kidnappings in Haiti in recent years, and a gang leader warned that any attempt by security forces to kill gang members would result in the hostages being executed.

Romain Le Cour, head of the Haiti Observatory at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, said the incident poses a significant test for the Haitian government, police and the U.N.-backed security mission, adding that the threat to the hostages creates a dilemma for authorities.

Residents recounted the violence. Marc Paul, 42, said his brother, step-parents, two cousins and a 16-year-old niece were taken; the niece escaped after being assaulted. Paul said his family had already lost their home in a previous gang attack in January.

In a video posted online, a gang leader identified as “Izo 2” – a reference to the powerful gang boss Johnson André – threatened National Police director Vladimir Paraison, saying he would kill the hostages if any police were harmed.

Le Cour suggested the attack may be intended to force the police and the U.N. force to divert limited resources to the area, potentially weakening security elsewhere. He also noted that the timing could be a message ahead of Haiti’s scheduled general elections on Dec. 13.

The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti said at least five of those killed were children, and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the killings, noting that 22 victims were reportedly executed in a church compound where they had sought shelter.

Kenscoff mayor Jean Massillon reported that gangs set fire to 25 homes and killed two government employees, including his cousin. He expressed optimism that the state would continue efforts to eliminate the gangs.

Researchers said gangs target Kenscoff to control routes linking the capital with the southern region. Security operations had reduced violence in the area by 66% earlier in the year, but criminal groups have shifted toward rural communities that lack strong police presence.

The Haitian National Police announced an investigation into the attack and ordered additional specialized units to the area, stating that protecting civilians is an obligation.

U.N. data show that gang violence has displaced a record 1.5 million people in Haiti, with more than 3,050 deaths reported from January to June and a sharp rise in kidnappings and sexual violence during the same period.