Haiti Endures Deadly Massacre Amid Gang Violence

According to the reports on Tuesday (10 December), nearly 200 people were killed in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in a horrific massacre allegedly orchestrated by a powerful gang leader blaming voodoo practitioners for his son’s illness. The victims, including many elderly individuals, were targeted, mutilated, and burned in the streets. The Haitian government condemned the atrocity as an “act of barbarity” and a “direct attack on humanity,” while the UN called for an immediate investigation.

The killings occurred in Cite Soleil, a violence-stricken neighborhood controlled by gangs. According to the Committee for Peace and Development (CPD), gang members forcibly removed victims from their homes and executed them at the gang leader’s stronghold. Eyewitnesses reported the brutal murders, including a man whose 76-year-old father was killed and burned, leaving the family unable to retrieve the body for burial.

The massacre reflects the growing instability in Haiti, where gangs control 80% of the capital. Despite international support efforts led by Kenya, backed by the US and UN, violence continues to escalate. The UN reported that over 700,000 people are internally displaced in Haiti, with thousands more forced from their homes due to the recent killings.

Haiti’s complex cultural history includes voodoo, brought by African slaves and officially recognized in 2003. Historically misunderstood and targeted, voodoo followers remain vulnerable in a country plagued by political instability, natural disasters, and violence. The international community has renewed calls for assistance to Haitian police in their fight against powerful gangs.

References

• Haiti Reels from Horrific Massacre Blamed on Voodoo Beliefs