A recent armed attack in Kenscoff, a commune on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, is a stark reminder of the persistent brutality of gang violence that is inflicted on local and displaced populations in Haiti. Based on information we have been able to verify so far, at least 47 people were killed in the 23 August attack - including three boys and two girls - and 22 others were wounded. More than 52 people were abducted.
In the evening of 23 August, approximately 150 heavily armed gang members stormed several localities near downtown Kenscoff and opened fire at residents attempting to flee through the streets, killing at least 13. The attackers subsequently pursued more than 50 residents who had sought refuge in a Protestant church. After forcing them out of the church premises, they executed 22 of them in the church courtyard, and 12 others behind the church.
As they retreated from downtown Kenscoff, gang members abducted 52 people, including one boy and four girls. In an audio recording shared on social media on 24 August, the gang threatened to execute them if security operations against them continued.
The mass killing in Kenscoff underscores the urgent need for national authorities to enhance the protection of the population, particularly communities living in areas affected by gang violence.
Illicit flows of firearms and ammunition into Haiti continue to bolster and empower armed gangs. On 24 August, another gang operating in Port-au-Prince appeared to display on social media what seemed to be a new shipment of weapons arriving from abroad, despite the United Nations arms embargo on Haiti, in place since 2022.
This comes as Haitians continue to endure horrific human rights violations and abuses.
Between 1 April and 30 June this year, our Human Rights Service in the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) has recorded 1,408 people killed and 656 injured in the context of gang-related violence.
In the same period, 326 people were subjected to sexual violence - although the figures are likely to be substantially higher, given the significant challenges in collecting data on sexual violence due to fear of retaliation, social stigma, difficulties in accessing service providers and lack of trust in police.
Independent and impartial investigations into allegations of human rights violations and abuses are essential, along with efforts to strengthen accountability mechanisms and combat impunity. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk calls on the Haitian authorities to ensure that the specialised judicial units to investigate mass crimes (Pôles judiciares spécialisés), which were created with our Office's assistance, are promptly and fully operationalized, and able to address grave cases such as these.
Accelerating the deployment of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) to counter gang violence in strict compliance with international human rights law and standards is also critical.
The High Commissioner urges all relevant actors to ensure strict application of both domestic and international regulations on arms control, as well as adherence to the UN arms embargoes on Haiti.
