The United States has condemned the latest deadly gang attack in Haiti and called for stronger international support for the multinational security mission established to help Haitian authorities regain control of areas held by armed groups.
The US criticism followed a devastating attack in Kenscoff, a community in the hills outside Port-au-Prince, where gangs killed at least 47 people and abducted more than 50 others during an overnight assault on August 23 and 24. The attack also resulted in homes being burned and thousands of residents being forced to flee.
- Advertisement -
Speaking at an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting, US representative Jennifer Locetta condemned what she described as savage attacks by armed gangs and said Washington was mourning the innocent lives lost. She stressed that stronger security efforts were needed to protect civilians and prevent gangs from further undermining Haiti’s stability and democratic future.
The United States also urged countries to support the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), the multinational mission authorised by the UN Security Council to assist in combating Haiti’s armed groups. The force has an authorised ceiling of 5,550 personnel but has yet to reach its full deployment. As of July, its military component had about 1,083 personnel, according to the UN.
The Kenscoff attack has renewed questions about the ability of Haiti’s national security forces and their international partners to protect communities outside the capital. Kenscoff had experienced a significant decline in violence earlier this year, but the latest assault represents a serious reversal and demonstrates the continuing ability of gangs to expand their reach.
UN officials told the Security Council that the attack was not an isolated incident and reflected the gangs’ growing capacity to challenge state authority. Between April and June alone, the UN documented more than 1,400 people killed and more than 600 injured across Haiti as a result of the continuing violence.
The humanitarian consequences have been severe. Approximately 2,647 people were displaced following the Kenscoff attack, while Haiti is already dealing with widespread internal displacement caused by years of gang violence. More than half of the country’s population is estimated to require humanitarian assistance this year.
The attack has also drawn attention to the more than 50 people abducted during the assault. Reports indicate that a gang leader threatened to execute the hostages if security forces targeted members of the gang, increasing fears for the safety of those being held. Amnesty International has called for their immediate and unconditional release.
Haitian authorities have responded by bringing together the Haitian National Police, Armed Forces and Gang Suppression Force to coordinate security operations. The plan includes strengthening the international force’s presence around Port-au-Prince while increasing national security deployments in Kenscoff.
The latest violence comes as Haiti prepares for long-delayed elections, making security a central concern for the country’s political transition. International officials have warned that continued gang attacks could undermine efforts to restore state authority and create conditions for credible elections.
The United States’ call for greater support for the security mission reflects growing international concern that Haiti’s security crisis cannot be addressed by Haitian authorities alone. The challenge now is ensuring that the multinational force receives the personnel, resources and sustained international backing necessary to protect civilians and help restore stability.
For Haiti’s population, however, the immediate priority remains survival as communities continue to face killings, kidnappings, displacement and the threat of further attacks.
