Gang Coalition Launches Deadly Assault on Kenscoff Farming Community in Haiti

A coalition of armed gangs launched a brutal attack on the farming community of Kenscoff, located in the hills above Haiti’s capital, leaving multiple people dead and homes destroyed, local officials confirmed.

Kenscoff Mayor Jean Massillon reported that the assault occurred late Sunday, with armed men setting fire to residences and killing residents. Due to communication challenges and difficult access, the exact death toll remains unclear.

Survivors were found mourning and discovering the bodies of friends and family scattered along the streets early Monday. One woman was heard repeatedly crying out for her son, while others gathered the deceased, some covered in blood-stained sheets.

Residents described hearing gunfire before dawn. Robert Jean recounted his desperate attempts to wake neighbors and search for his brother, who was killed during the attack.

Locals criticized the government’s security response, with Verti Enold-Saint lamenting the absence of adequate police protection that might have prevented the massacre.

Farmer Mathurin Pierre reported losing 14 relatives, with additional people still missing.

Gang Links and Targeted Sites

Mayor Massillon attributed the violence to members of the gang group Viv Ansanm, designated last year by the U.S. government as a foreign terrorist organization. The attackers targeted a church and several homes, including that of Dr. Jean “Bill” Pape, a prominent physician who runs an NGO providing care to patients with HIV and tuberculosis.

Haiti’s Office of Citizen Protection condemned the massacre, confirming dozens of deaths, including many young Haitians.

Security Forces Respond

National Police Director Vladimir Paraison visited Kenscoff and defended the police presence, emphasizing their ongoing efforts to restore order. Meanwhile, Port-au-Prince’s chief prosecutor Jean Fritz Patterson Dorval noted the presence of eight armored vehicles in the area but deferred detailed explanations to local authorities.

The government denounced the attack as a heinous crime and announced deployment of reinforcements to ensure Kenscoff’s security. Authorities pledged to pursue those responsible and urged the public to remain confident.

Context of Rising Violence

Gangs control approximately 70% of Port-au-Prince, with Viv Ansanm frequently targeting the Kenscoff area. The surge in gang violence has displaced about 1.5 million Haitians and resulted in over 3,100 deaths and nearly 1,200 injuries in the first half of the year, according to U.N. data.

The attack comes shortly after the U.S. deported more than 160 Haitians, including individuals with criminal records linked to gangs, back to the country amid ongoing political instability.

Haiti is preparing for general elections scheduled for December 13, the first in over a decade. However, security experts warn that the current violence poses a significant threat to the electoral process.