Gangs in Haiti kill 4 soldiers, 4 civilians in bid to seize full control of capital
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Gangs in Haiti have carried out deadly attacks, resulting in the deaths of four soldiers and four armed civilians who were working with law enforcement to protect their communities, according to an official statement on Thursday.
The spokesperson for Haiti’s National Police, Lionel Lazarre, reported that two soldiers and four civilians were killed in Kenscoff, a previously peaceful community near the capital. Additionally, two soldiers and an unspecified number of civilians were killed in Pacot, a neighborhood within Port-au-Prince.
Recent attacks have also claimed the lives of at least four police officers and armed civilians in Canapé-Vert, one of the few areas not yet under gang control.
Disturbing videos circulating on social media show gunmen mutilating bodies and displaying severed heads as trophies, declaring victory over their victims.
The transitional presidential council and the prime minister’s office have both condemned the attacks, emphasizing the government’s commitment to combating insecurity as a top priority.
Gangs, who now control the majority of Port-au-Prince, have been targeting areas previously untouched by violence, resulting in a surge of casualties among both civilians and law enforcement.
Earlier this year, over 260 individuals lost their lives in attacks on Kenscoff and Carrefour, underscoring the escalating crisis of gang violence in Haiti.
Despite efforts by Haitian police and a U.N.-backed mission to push back against the gangs, challenges persist due to funding shortages and insufficient personnel.
The U.N. reports that more than 5,600 individuals lost their lives in Haiti last year, with over one million people displaced due to gang-related violence.
