Haiti’s national police are facing mounting public criticism after an armed gang attack in Kenscoff, near the capital Port-au-Prince, killed 47 people and resulted in the kidnapping of more than 50 others.
Police spokesperson Garry Desrosiers provided few details during a news conference on Thursday about how authorities planned to respond to the August 23 attack. He said police could not disclose operational plans while efforts were underway to regain control of the area.
The assault forced hundreds of residents to flee Kenscoff, a hillside community where gang violence had previously been declining. Police said they were working to help displaced residents return home.
The situation has become more dangerous after a gang leader reportedly threatened to kill all the hostages if police killed any gang members. Authorities also believe the gang leader has threatened an attack on Tabarre, an area of Port-au-Prince where the United States embassy is located.
The Kenscoff attack has raised further questions about Haiti’s ability to contain powerful armed groups. According to the United Nations, gang violence has continued to spread across the country despite intensified security operations.
More than 3,050 people were killed across Haiti between January and June, while more than 1.5 million people have been displaced by violence. An estimated 70 percent of Port-au-Prince is currently under gang control.
The latest attack is particularly significant because violence in Kenscoff had reportedly fallen by 66 percent compared with the same period a year earlier, according to the conflict monitor Armed Conflict Location and Event Data.
Haiti has struggled with political instability and insecurity since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. The country has not held national elections since then, although a general election is currently scheduled for December.
A UN-backed Gang Suppression Force began arriving in Haiti in April to help dismantle organised criminal groups and strengthen state authority. However, critics say previous international security missions have achieved limited success and have faced allegations of human rights abuses.
Haiti’s police have also faced accusations of corruption, incompetence and, in some cases, cooperation with armed groups. National police chief Vladimir Paraison has defended the force against criticism and said an investigation is examining whether the Kenscoff attack was enabled by police “complicity or negligence.”
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