Haiti: Amnesty International Demands Justice Following Deadly Gang Attack in Kenscoff

At least 47 people were killed and more than 50 others were kidnapped when armed gangs attacked the community of Kenscoff in the hills above Port-au-Prince during the night of 23–24 August, according to the United Nations. The assault on the once-peaceful area left 22 victims executed inside a church compound where they had sought shelter from the violence.

Amnesty International condemned the killings, warning that the massacre highlights the severe human cost of the absence of effective security policies. The attack shattered a fragile belief that security conditions in the troubled Caribbean nation were improving ahead of upcoming general elections.

Mass Kidnappings and Hostage Threats in Kenscoff

The nighttime raid resulted in what is believed to be one of the largest mass abductions in Haiti in recent years. In addition to the 47 fatalities, dozens of residents were taken hostage, and at least 25 homes were set on fire, according to local officials and UN reports. Five of those killed were children.

Kenscoff Mayor Jean Massillon confirmed that the dead included two government employees, among them a family member who served as his security detail. Residents described fleeing through bodies to escape the armed fighters. Kenscoff resident Marc Paul told the Associated Press that the attackers kidnapped his brother, stepmother, stepfather, and two cousins, while his 16-year-old niece was kidnapped and raped before managing to escape.

Following the assault, a social media video emerged featuring a gang leader identified as Izo 2—known also as Didi, who leads the local armed group in coordination with powerful gang leader Johnson André, commonly known as Izo. The speaker in the video threatened Vladimir Paraison, director of Haiti’s National Police, warning that all hostages would be killed if security forces harmed any gang members during operations to secure Kenscoff.

International Condemnation and Security Dilemmas

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the violence, pointing to the execution of 22 people inside the church compound as evidence of alarming security conditions. Astrid Valencia, Deputy Regional Director for Research for the Americas at Amnesty International, called on authorities and the international community to redouble efforts to protect civilians.

Sadly, we are once again witnessing another massacre in Haiti. This is a reminder of the devastating human cost of the absence of effective policies to protect the population.

Astrid Valencia, Amnesty International

Romain Le Cour, head of the Haiti Observatory at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, described the incident as a major political and security test for the government, police, and the international mission. Le Cour noted that the hostage threat creates a tactical trap for security forces, who face criticism whether they intervene or hold back. Analysts suggest the assault may have been designed to force authorities to disperse limited personnel from other regions or to challenge government claims of stability ahead of national elections scheduled for 13 December.