Gangsters Suddenly Attack Capital, 47 Killed and 50 Kidnapped
At least 47 people were killed and more than 50 others kidnapped by armed groups in Haiti. The brutal attack took place in Kenscoff, a once peaceful community in the hills near Port-au-Prince.
Citing The Guardian on Thursday (27/8/2026), the weekend attack destroyed hopes that security in the country was beginning to improve. The tragedy has become the biggest political and security test for the government, the police, and the international mission there.
The gang leader who orchestrated the attack even threatened to kill all the hostages if the authorities dared to fight back. He challenged the security forces attempting to secure the Kenscoff area from their grip.
According to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), at least five of the 47 victims killed were children. Sunday’s deadly incident was the largest attack since the first invasion of Kenscoff in January 2025.
Kenscoff Mayor Jean Massillon said two government employees were also killed in the massacre. One of the victims was his cousin, who served as his personal bodyguard.
Members of the powerful Viv Ansanm gang coalition, which the US has designated as a terrorist organisation, also burned down 25 residents’ homes. Massillon said gang members are still roaming the outskirts of Kenscoff.
“The cruelty of this crime reminds us that we must continue to work harder every day to bring peace to the community,” he said.
“But I am optimistic that the country will continue to strive hard to eradicate it,” he added.
In a video on social media, the gang leader warned the Director of Haiti’s National Police, Vladimir Paraison. He prohibited the authorities from using drone technology to drive the gangs out of the area.
“Paraison, if any of our soldiers are injured, I will kill them all,” asserted the man who identified himself as Izo 2.
The head of the Haiti Observatory, Romain Le Cour, revealed the status of Izo 2, who is a subordinate of the most powerful gang boss named Johnson André, or Izo. According to him, Izo 2 runs “a kind of franchise cell for other gangs”.
The aim of dividing and conquering
Le Cour strongly suspects that the gang attack was intended to divide the very limited resources of the security forces. Forcing the deployment of troops to one point would sacrifice security in other areas.
This manoeuvre also served as a show of force ahead of the 13 December general election, which will be the first election in a decade. The main message is that the government’s claim of protection does not match the reality on the ground at all.
“The gangs are saying, when we choose to attack, we can, and we will succeed,” he explained.
On the other hand, a number of survivors accused the government of failing to provide adequate protection before the deadly attack occurred. However, the police quickly and firmly rejected the accusation.
Le Cour assessed that the situation is very worrying if the police and armoured vehicles were indeed already on standby at the location from the start. “You let the gangs in even if you had already prepared everything?” he said.
For information, armed groups now control around 70% of the Port-au-Prince area and most of central Haiti. The high escalation of gang violence has succeeded in driving 1.5 million people from their homes.
According to UN statistical data released on Tuesday, this crisis has caused more than 3,050 deaths. In addition, around 1,400 other people were reported injured between January and June this year.