Over the weekend, a savage massacre in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, resulted in at least 184 deaths, highlighting the escalating instability in a nation already beset by rampant gang violence for several years.
According to reports, the murders targeted elderly inhabitants in the Cité Soleil district and were allegedly commanded by Monel “Mikano” Felix, the Wharf Jérémie gang’s leader.
The National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH) reports that Felix sought advice from a voodoo priest when his child fell ill and eventually died on Saturday. The priest allegedly pinned the blame on the senior citizens in the area, accusing them of witchcraft. As per the RNDDH, “Felix ordered the killings, and at least 110 people aged 60 and older were slaughtered over the weekend, many with machetes and knives.”
The densely populated and poverty-stricken neighborhood of Cité Soleil in Port-au-Prince has been a longstanding hotspot for violence. This recent massacre is among the deadliest incidents in Haiti’s capital this year. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, confirmed the death toll during a press briefing in Geneva, adding that the murders have brought Haiti’s gang-related death toll in 2024 to at least 5,000.
“This is an appalling example of the brutality that has taken over large parts of the country,” Türk said, imploring the international community to step up its support to Haiti.
The stronghold of gangs over Port-au-Prince and other areas of Haiti has grown amidst persistent political unrest, which started after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Based on reports from human rights organizations, armed criminal organizations now control as much as 80% of the capital.
The escalating violence has led to the suspension of international flights to Haiti. Major U.S. airlines, including American Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit, have indefinitely ceased operations to the country. Following an incident in November where gang-related gunfire hit commercial aircraft departing from Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a 30-day ban. This ban has now been extended until at least March 2025.
“American Airlines suspended flights indefinitely due to safety concerns, and JetBlue and Spirit have also not resumed operations. Currently, the only available commercial flights are offered by a Haiti-based carrier, Sunrise Airways.”
The suspension of flights has further exacerbated Haiti’s transportation crisis, with gangs also controlling major roads, thereby making travel within the country perilously risky.
The violence in Cité Soleil has displaced thousands and the living conditions in the area continue to be harsh. Residents are faced with limited mobility as gang members have blocked essential streets and even restricted cell phone communication.
“The insecurity has created a humanitarian crisis. Over 700,000 people in Haiti are now internally displaced, half of them children,” the UN reported. The gangs’ control over distribution routes has hindered relief efforts, leaving many without food, clean water, or access to medical care.
The Haitian authorities have committed to tackling the gang crisis. Describing the massacre as “monstrous crimes,” the government has pledged to bring the offenders to justice. “We are mobilizing all available forces to annihilate these criminals,” officials stated.
However, despite these commitments, attempts to curb gang violence have been largely ineffective. A UN-backed Multinational Security Support Mission, spearheaded by Kenyan police, was sent earlier this year but has had difficulties in making significant headway.
This situation has reignited calls for international assistance. The UN and Haitian officials have called on countries to enhance efforts to curb arms trafficking into Haiti, which bolsters the gangs’ increasing power. International watchdogs report that a substantial portion of the firearms used by criminal groups are smuggled from the United States.
In October, the Gran Grif gang admitted to the murder of over 115 people in Pont-Sonde, a town in Haiti’s agricultural Artibonite region. The gang declared that the attack was in retaliation against residents who had supported a local self-defense group in disrupting their road toll activities.
In a region already dealing with deep-rooted poverty and political instability, the weekend massacre has underscored the urgent need for action. For the residents of Cité Soleil, the struggle for survival continues, with little anticipation for immediate relief.
