Gang members killed at least 11 people and burned homes in Haiti's Artibonite region on Monday in retaliation for a security operation that left three gang members dead. The attack is the latest reprisal in areas contested by armed groups, as the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force's mandate is set to expire.
The escalating gang violence and retaliatory attacks in Haiti highlight the severe security crisis and the challenges faced by international missions attempting to restore order, with the potential expiration of the Gang Suppression Force's mandate raising concerns about further instability.
At least 11 people were killed on Monday in Haiti's central Artibonite region by gang members retaliating against a security operation, according to the local mayor. The attack is the latest reprisal against residents in areas contested by armed groups, particularly in the farming heartland of Artibonite.
Earlier on Monday, a Sri Lankan unit of the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force, a multinational mission aimed at combating rampant violence, pushed back gang members who had established illegal toll points, Mayor Hubert Ceneac told Radio Kiskeya. The operation resulted in the deaths of three gang members, the force stated. Ceneac noted that the UN-backed force remained in the area for only a few hours before returning to their base in Gonaives. "The bandits in retaliation attacked...they killed and burned homes," Ceneac said, estimating the death toll between 11 and 12.
Rosy Ducena, head of the National Human Rights Defense Network, indicated that the total death toll and damages were not yet clear, but a report of a single family losing several members had been received. Ceneac identified the area as a stronghold of the Kokorat San Ras gang. Haiti's security crisis has escalated beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince, with gangs expanding their influence.
The mandate for the Gang Suppression Force is scheduled to expire this week, pending a vote in the UN Security Council on Tuesday morning.
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