PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Early Tuesday morning, gangs initiated a new assault on Haiti’s capital, specifically targeting the affluent Pétionville neighborhood. This violent encounter saw gang members engage in a fierce clash against residents who banded together with police in defense of their community.
The offensive was spearheaded by the Viv Ansanm gang, led by the notorious former police officer Jimmy Chérizier, who had previously disclosed his intentions in a social media video. According to Lionel Lazarre, the deputy spokesperson for the National Police of Haiti, at least 28 alleged gang affiliates lost their lives, alongside the capture of hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
It remains uncertain whether authorities had taken any precautions to safeguard Pétionville, even after the open threat issued by Chérizier, known by the nickname Barbecue. Attempts to reach Lazarre for further clarification went unanswered.
Witnesses recounted their outrage over yet another assault on their community. Reports emerged that some of the fallen gang members had been gruesomely mutilated, with accounts of decapitated bodies and limbs severed, culminating in bodies being gathered and set alight.
The early morning chaos erupted when two trucks filled with presumed gang members made their way into Pétionville, with one vehicle obstructing the main access point to the area. Chérizier had previously threatened retaliation against hotels in the vicinity harboring politicians or wealthy elites.
In addition to the assaults on Pétionville, nearby Canapé Vert and other districts also faced gunfire. Richard Derosier, a local resident, shared his panic as he witnessed a man running with an automatic weapon, recalling, “I asked God, ‘Are you going to let them save my life?’”
This attack follows a series of violent episodes that prompted the closure of Haiti’s primary international airport for the second time in the current year, coinciding with the inauguration of a new prime minister amidst ongoing political turmoil.
Just days earlier, a shooting incident involving a Spirit Airlines flight occurred as it was approaching landing, resulting in an injured flight attendant. This violent encounter led to the temporary suspension of airport operations, forcing multiple airlines to cancel flights to Port-au-Prince.
The United Nations has reported that gang violence has rendered over 20,000 inhabitants homeless in recent weeks, forcing them to flee Port-au-Prince. The Viv Ansanm gang has also been linked to a wave of concerted attacks that began in late February, aimed at critical government facilities. These assaults included attacks on police stations, gunfire directed at the main international airport which led to a nearly three-month closure, and a raid on major prisons liberating upwards of 4,000 inmates.
Currently, gangs exert control over approximately 85% of the capital, with recent aggressions targeting areas that were previously considered peaceful, in a bid to expand their territory. The frequency of these violent outbursts has notably increased since the deployment of Kenyan police officers, who are part of a U.N.-sanctioned mission aimed at restoring order in Haiti, which commenced in late June.
The United States has been advocating for a U.N. peacekeeping mission to take over from the Kenyan-led forces due to their insufficient funding and resources.