Haiti Gang Raid Kills 47, Kidnaps 50+ in Kenscoff as UN Urges Stronger Security
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Aug 25
Haiti Gang Raid Kills 47, Kidnaps 50+ in Kenscoff as UN Urges Stronger Security
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Aug 25
Summary
At least 47 people were killed, more than 50 abducted and 22 injured in the August 23 raid on Kenscoff, a hillside town near Port-au-Prince that overlooks key routes into the capital.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the attack showed Haiti’s worsening security crisis and demanded intensified Haitian and international efforts against gangs.
Mayor Jean Massillon said gunmen burned homes, attacked a church and targeted residents including public health expert Jean William Pape’s home, blaming the assault on the Viv Ansanm alliance.
Residents accused police of failing to protect a community attacked near a police station, while the prime minister’s office vowed to restore state authority and not abandon Kenscoff.
The assault, described as one of Haiti’s largest mass kidnappings in recent years, deepens pressure on a government hoping to stage its first general election in more than a decade.
Why did a notorious terrorist gang suddenly target a quiet hillside farming community, and what does it mean for Haiti's survival?
How is the sudden expansion of Haiti's deadliest gang into rural territories threatening the nation's fragile upcoming elections?
With crucial healthcare leaders under attack, who will step in to save millions facing disease and starvation in gang-controlled Haiti?
Haiti on the Brink: The Kenscoff Massacre, Gang Expansion, and the Collapse of State and Humanitarian Systems Ahead of the 2026 Elections
Overview
On August 23–24, 2026, the Viv Ansanm gang coalition launched a devastating attack on Kenscoff, killing dozens and destroying homes and key infrastructure. This assault was part of a broader strategy, as Viv Ansanm—formed by merging Haiti’s largest gangs—seeks to control vital routes into Pétion-Ville and expand its parallel governance through extortion and the seizure of schools, markets, and ports. The violence has displaced over 1.4 million Haitians, making fair elections nearly impossible and overwhelming state security forces. As gangs outgun police and vigilante groups rise, Haiti faces deepening food insecurity, mass migration, and a humanitarian crisis that threatens regional stability.