Overview:
On Monday, Jan. 27, gangs from Carrefour, a commune about seven miles south of downtown Port-au-Prince, launched an attack on communities in the hills of Kenscoff. This gang assault follows a week of threats aimed at seizing control of the area. The Haitian National Police responded decisively to thwart the gang offensive, resulting in the deaths of multiple gang members, according to law enforcement authorities.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — The Haitian National Police (PNH) reported on Monday that several gang members were killed during an armed confrontation in Kenscoff, a hilly commune approximately 15 miles southeast of Port-au-Prince. Specialized police units successfully thwarted an attack by gangs from nearby Carrefour who attempted to expand their territory. Authorities also seized a firearm and a communications radio during the operation.
Local media reports indicate that more than 20 individuals were killed in gunfire exchanges with police during a day of extreme violence in the mountains above Port-au-Prince. However, a spokesperson for the PNH did not respond to The Haitian Times request for a count of fallen gang members. The Belot and Godet communities in the Kenscoff commune were attacked, forcing many residents to flee. Heavily armed gang members not only fired upon these communities but also set several homes ablaze.
The attack on Kenscoff occurred amid escalating gang violence across Haiti, where armed groups now control over 80% of the capital and surrounding areas, resulting in the deaths of more than 5,600 people and displacing over 700,000. Kenscoff, located less than eight miles from the bustling Pétion-Ville commune, holds strategic significance as a link between the West and Southeast departments. Recent community efforts have enhanced this route, providing a much-needed alternative to the gang-controlled National Road #2.
Despite security measures adopted by local authorities following threats issued earlier in the last week, gangs launched their offensive on neighborhoods near the Kenscoff municipal center. They aimed to establish control over the area, a critical alternative route for travelers avoiding Martissant and Carrefour roads.
Interim Mayor Massillon Jean confirmed that the attackers came from Carrefour and caused significant disruptions. “Several houses were burned, and daily activities came to a standstill,” Jean said, adding that police reinforcements were deployed to fend off the armed attacks after municipal officers made urgent calls for help.
The PNH and the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) dispatched reinforcements, including specialized units and Kenyan police officers, to counter the assault. “Several specialized units of the PNH are hard at work, pursuing armed gang members,” the police said in a statement. “These operations aim to neutralize armed criminals and strengthen the police presence within the commune.”
Videos shared by residents showed heavy gunfire and smoke rising from the mountains of Kenscoff. Fleeing residents described the terrifying ordeal, which left many displaced. Mayor Jean could not confirm if there were civilian casualties but acknowledged significant material damage.
To boost the confidence and morale of the officers involved in the operations, Haitian Police Director General Rameau Normil and Commander of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) Godfrey Otunge visited the local police station in Kenscoff on Monday. Normil urged residents to collaborate with law enforcement by reporting any suspicious activity.
Other clashes between the police and gang members of the criminal coalition « Viv Ansanm » took place in the capital, particularly in the Marché Salomon area, not far from the National Palace. A police officer named Harold Théodore, assigned to the Port-au-Prince Police Station, was killed in the exchange of gunfire.
“These operations aim to neutralize armed criminals and strengthen the police presence within the commune.”
PNH statement about the situation in Kenscoff
“The blood of veteran warriors like Harold must not be shed in vain, while bandits continue to spread terror in the downtown area,” declared the SPNH_17 police union in a statement of sympathy on X.
“Every police officer who loses their life in the line of duty is a great loss for a country already in distress. SPNH_17 reaffirms its commitment to combating the phenomenon of insecurity, a threat to the nation.”
Preventive security measures in Kenscoff did not stop the gangs
In response to escalating threats, authorities in Kenscoff had implemented precautionary measures before the attack. These included mandatory identification for all adults traveling within the commune, a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., a ban on large outdoor cultural and recreational activities and community calls for solidarity to counter gang incursions.
Despite these efforts, the attack underscores the challenges faced by local authorities in containing Haiti’s gang crisis.
Haiti’s gang violence reached alarming levels in 2024. Armed groups have increasingly targeted strategic areas like Kenscoff to expand their influence.
The Haitian National Police, under pressure to respond effectively, faces significant resource constraints, including a lack of personnel and equipment. While operations like the one in Kenscoff demonstrate the police force’s commitment, the broader crisis continues to strain the nation’s security infrastructure.
