At least 70 people are dead after Haitian gangs allegedly attacked an agricultural district of the Caribbean nation as international forces prepare to respond.
Gang members marched into the regions of Jean-Denis and Pont-Sondé, located on the west of the country, before shooting civilians and burning residences from Sunday to Monday, CNN reported, citing rights groups. The attacks have left at least 70 people killed and more than 50 homes burned down, and have displaced nearly 6,000 people, according to the rights organization Defenseurs Plus. (RELATED: Raid On Christian Town Sparks Violence, Protest Before Palm Sunday: REPORT)
This represented a significant increase compared to original police reports of 16 dead and 10 wounded, Reuters reported. An audio message online addressing the incident was credited to the leader of the Gran Grif gang, Luckson Elan. He seemingly claimed the attack was revenge against a rival group for a strike on their base. The U.S. has designated the Gran Grif gang as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
Upon arriving, the gang members started firing in all directions while “filming and operating with complete confidence,” Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission to Save the Artibonite Valley spokesperson Bertide Horace told CNN
TOPSHOT – Police forces take part in an operation against powerful gangs in the city center near the National Palace in Port-au-Prince on July 9, 2024. (Photo by CLARENS SIFFROY/AFP via Getty Images)
The Haitian National Police said they dispatched three armored vehicles that were slowed thanks to holes created by gang members, Reuters reported. The gang was fleeing the scene when law enforcement showed up and multiple residences had been burned, officials said. The wounded were transported to a hospital while the dead were taken to morgues, police said, adding that officers are searching for those who fled.
“This latest massacre is yet another atrocity in a string of crimes that the Haitian authorities and the international community have failed to stop,” Johanna Pelaez, a Caribbean at Amnesty International regional researcher, told CNN, adding that “the incident highlights the urgent need for the Haitian government and the international community to collaborate in finding a lasting solution to the security situation.”
The United Nations estimates that at least 26 gangs are active in and around Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, resulting in “alarming levels of violence.” The chaos has led to thousands of deaths and approximately 1.4 million fleeing, according to the UN.
The Gang Suppression Force (GSF), a new multinational unit, is set to deploy in Haiti, to end the gang attacks, according to CNN. The force was created in 2025 and is slated to have 5,000 members, the UN said.
“This attack underscores the gravity of the security situation faced by the Haitian population,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, said at a briefing Monday.
