October 2024 — Port-au-Prince, Haiti — In response to a mass shooting that claimed the lives of at least 70 people and displaced over 6,000 residents, the Haitian government has deployed additional anti-gang police forces to the town of Pont Sonde, located near the capital, Port-au-Prince. The massacre, which occurred on Thursday, was carried out by members of the notorious Gran Grif gang, who used automatic rifles to target civilians, according to local officials and the United Nations.
Prime Minister Garry Conille condemned the attack, describing it as “an odious crime against defenseless women, men, and children” and a grave offense against the Haitian nation. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Conille pledged that security forces would be reinforced in the area and that the government would take immediate measures to address escalating violence.
Details of Attack
On Thursday, heavily armed gang members stormed Pont Sonde, a town in Haiti’s Artibonite Valley region, shooting indiscriminately at civilians and setting fire to homes and vehicles. According to Thameen Al-Kheetan, a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, at least 70 people were killed in the assault, including women, children, and infants. Attackers, who faced no resistance, torched 45 houses and 34 vehicles, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes.
Bertide Horace, a spokesperson for Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission to Save Artibonite Valley, described the scene as chaotic and devastating. “y were left to shoot anybody, everybody was running everywhere,” Horace said. “y were walking, shooting people, killing people, burning people, burning homes, burning cars.”
Local police reportedly remained in the stations during an attack, fearing they would be overwhelmed by heavily armed gang members. Several victims were shot execution-style in the head as gang members moved from house to house.
Responsibility Claimed
leader of the Gran Grif gang, Luckson Elan, later claimed responsibility for the massacre, stating that it was a retaliatory measure in response to civilians who remained silent after his gang members were killed by police and vigilante groups. Elan’s gang is one of many that have terrorized Haiti in recent years, seizing control of large swaths of territory as the country grapples with political instability and a security vacuum.
Gran Grif gang is known for its brutality and operates with near impunity in parts of Haiti, as government forces struggle to contain escalating violence.
Government Response
In a statement following the attack, Prime Minister Conille emphasized the need for a swift and coordinated response, calling the violence “unacceptable.” He assured the public that the Haitian National Police would be stepping up efforts to restore order, with reinforcements from the Temporary Anti-Gang Unit (UTAG) deployed to the area.
” Massacre of innocent civilians demands an urgent, rigorous, and coordinated response from the state,” Conille said. ” Government is committed to ensuring that those responsible for the heinous acts are brought to justice, and we will continue to reinforce our security operations.”
Escalating Violence in Haiti
This latest attack highlights a deepening security crisis in Haiti, where gang violence has spiraled out of control. Since January 2024, more than 3,500 people have been killed in gang-related violence across the country, with thousands more displaced. Many gangs, like Gran Grif, have taken advantage of political instability following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, further weakening the state’s ability to maintain law and order.
Rights groups have warned that the death toll from the Pont Sonde massacre could be higher than reported and that the true extent of the damage may not yet be known.
International Involvement
As the situation in Haiti worsens, international actors have begun to take a more active role in addressing violence. Recently, Kenya agreed to lead a multinational security mission to support Haiti’s police forces in its fight against gangs. The mission, backed by the United Nations, aims to provide training, resources, and personnel to bolster Haiti’s under-resourced security forces.
However, critics argue that, while necessary, international involvement may not be sufficient to address the root causes of the crisis, including political corruption, economic instability, and widespread poverty.
Conclusion
massacre in Pont Sonde is a tragic reminder of the urgent need for a coordinated, comprehensive response to Haiti’s security crisis. As gang violence continues to claim lives and destabilize communities, the Haitian government, with the support of the international community, faces mounting pressure to take decisive action. For now, residents of Pont Sonde and many or towns across Haiti are left mourning the loss of loved ones and fearing what comes next.
- ‘The population is fed up’: Haiti archbishop warns leaders amid latest gang massacre Miami Herald
- At Least 70 People Dead in Gang Attack in Haiti The New York Times
- Haiti: Gang opens fire killing at least 70 people DW (English)
