James Boyard, cabinet director of Haiti's Defence Ministry and inspector general of police, was kidnapped by armed men in Port-au-Prince. He is the highest-ranking official abducted in recent years amid escalating gang violence.
The abduction of a high-ranking security official like James Boyard underscores the severe and escalating gang control in Haiti, impacting government stability and public safety.
Armed men have kidnapped James Boyard, the cabinet director of Haiti's Defence Ministry and inspector general of the national police, marking the highest-profile abduction in the gang-ridden Caribbean nation in recent years. A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the kidnapping on Saturday, stating Boyard was seized on Thursday in Bourdon, an area of the capital, Port-au-Prince, previously considered relatively safe.
Boyard, who is also a political scientist, was tasked with helping rebuild Haiti’s armed forces and has helped assess Haiti’s National Police to implement reforms. His abduction highlights the pervasive insecurity in Haiti, where an estimated 70% of the capital is under the control of the gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm. The United States designated Viv Ansanm as a foreign terrorist organization in May of the previous year.
It is currently unknown who is responsible for Boyard's kidnapping or whether any ransom demands have been made. An analyst suggested the abduction was likely planned in detail and may have involved collaboration from someone close to Boyard's security detail. Kidnappings are increasingly occurring in areas of Port-au-Prince once considered safe, with gangs sometimes impersonating police officers. The analyst noted that gangs are targeting individuals with dual nationalities and public officials, potentially seeking higher ransoms or aiming to deter authorities from attacking gang-controlled territories where victims are held. Some victims are being taken to Village de Dieu, controlled by the 5 Segond gang led by Johnson Andre, also known as 'Izo'.
High-profile kidnappings in recent years have targeted journalists and international missionaries. According to a UN report, 267 people were reported kidnapped from December 2025 to February 2026. In 2025, 1,268 kidnappings were reported, a nearly 40% drop from the 2,058 reported the previous year.