The recent massacre in Haiti, where more than 110 elderly citizens were killed by gang members in Port-au-Prince, highlights the escalating violence fueled by superstition. The killings were ignited by a gang leader whose son died after a mysterious illness, catalyzing a horrific witch-hunt against the local elderly community.
Unprecedented Violence in Haiti: Gang Killings Surge Amid Witchcraft Accusations
Unprecedented Violence in Haiti: Gang Killings Surge Amid Witchcraft Accusations
A local gang in Port-au-Prince has been accused of executing over 110 people, mainly seniors, in a brutal act driven by witchcraft allegations stemming from gang leader’s personal tragedy.
In a horrifying display of violence driven by superstition, over 110 individuals, predominantly senior citizens, have been murdered by a gang in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. Recent reports from the National Human Rights Defence Network (RNDDH) reveal that the killings were ignited after a local gang leader lost his son to a mysterious illness. Seeking answers, the gang leader consulted a voodoo priest, who attributed the illness to alleged witchcraft practiced by the elderly population.
The United Nations revealed that this year, the escalating gang violence in Haiti has resulted in approximately 5,000 deaths. During the recent massacre, it was reported that gang members invaded homes in the Wharf Jérémie area, capturing and brutally executing the elderly defenseless residents, with accounts of body mutilations and burning surfacing. RNDDH stated that roughly 60 victims were killed on Friday followed by an additional 50 on Saturday after the gang leader's tragic loss.
While the majority of the deceased were above 60 years of age, some reports suggest younger individuals who intervened to protect the elders also faced lethal reprisals. The killings, orchestrated by gang chief Monel Felix, also known as Mikano, underline the reign of terror in Wharf Jérémie, a gang-controlled area where news of such brutality took time to emerge.
Port-au-Prince now finds itself overrun by gangs, controlling an estimated 85% of the city following a period of political unrest that erupted after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Despite a temporary reduction in violence earlier this year due to rival gang truces, recent territorial expansions have led to staggering violence against civilians.
On October 3, another massacre claimed 115 lives in the town of Pont-Sondé, where the Gran Grif gang targeted residents resisting their extortion activities. If the UN’s figures concerning the Cité Soleil tragedy are confirmed, it stands as one of the most catastrophic events recorded in 2023.
The ongoing gang violence has forced over 700,000 people, including children, to flee their homes as the pervasive atmosphere of terror continues with alarming frequency. Human Rights Watch has documented rampant sexual abuse conditions under the gangs’ control, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
International efforts, led by a Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission, aim to stabilize the situation but have struggled due to insufficient resources and equipment to combat the well-armed gangs. Meanwhile, local governance, represented by the Transitional Presidential Council, faces its own turmoil as it continues to grapple with organizing democratic processes amidst the spiraling chaos.
The United Nations revealed that this year, the escalating gang violence in Haiti has resulted in approximately 5,000 deaths. During the recent massacre, it was reported that gang members invaded homes in the Wharf Jérémie area, capturing and brutally executing the elderly defenseless residents, with accounts of body mutilations and burning surfacing. RNDDH stated that roughly 60 victims were killed on Friday followed by an additional 50 on Saturday after the gang leader's tragic loss.
While the majority of the deceased were above 60 years of age, some reports suggest younger individuals who intervened to protect the elders also faced lethal reprisals. The killings, orchestrated by gang chief Monel Felix, also known as Mikano, underline the reign of terror in Wharf Jérémie, a gang-controlled area where news of such brutality took time to emerge.
Port-au-Prince now finds itself overrun by gangs, controlling an estimated 85% of the city following a period of political unrest that erupted after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Despite a temporary reduction in violence earlier this year due to rival gang truces, recent territorial expansions have led to staggering violence against civilians.
On October 3, another massacre claimed 115 lives in the town of Pont-Sondé, where the Gran Grif gang targeted residents resisting their extortion activities. If the UN’s figures concerning the Cité Soleil tragedy are confirmed, it stands as one of the most catastrophic events recorded in 2023.
The ongoing gang violence has forced over 700,000 people, including children, to flee their homes as the pervasive atmosphere of terror continues with alarming frequency. Human Rights Watch has documented rampant sexual abuse conditions under the gangs’ control, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
International efforts, led by a Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission, aim to stabilize the situation but have struggled due to insufficient resources and equipment to combat the well-armed gangs. Meanwhile, local governance, represented by the Transitional Presidential Council, faces its own turmoil as it continues to grapple with organizing democratic processes amidst the spiraling chaos.
