Haiti News: Gang Takeovers, Massacre of Religious Leaders
The situation in Haiti continues to spark outrage following the recent massacre in the capital, Port-au-Prince, perpetrated by a powerful gang leader. According to Haitian authorities and human rights organizations, more than 100 people, mostly elderly and Voodoo religious leaders, were brutally murdered in revenge for the death of the gang leader’s son.
The numbers vary widely in a country where killings are common in often inaccessible gang-controlled areas. The Haitian government has acknowledged the massacre in the Cité Soleil neighborhood and pledged to bring those responsible for the atrocity to justice.
The United Nations has also spoken out on the tragedy, condemning the violence that claimed the lives of “at least 184 people, including 127 elderly people, between 6 and 8 December in the Wharf Jérémie neighbourhood of Cité Soleil”. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a thorough investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable, in a show of international solidarity in the face of this tragedy.
The gang leader in question controls several coastal communities and was previously known for criminal acts such as theft, extortion and theft of goods. However, this unprecedented massacre reveals a darker side to his personality. The motives for these horrific murders appear to go back to the illness and subsequent death of his son, attributed to witchcraft practiced by members of the community.
Human rights watchdogs in Haiti have estimated the death toll at over 100, but the lack of transparency surrounding the information leaves doubts about the true scale of this tragedy. There are concerns that the terror imposed by gangs on the population will make it harder to gather information and establish the truth.
This massacre highlights once again the vulnerability of the Haitian population to gang violence and the failure of the authorities to protect citizens. The use of voodoo practices and accusations of witchcraft to justify such barbaric acts highlight the need for urgent action to end these abuses of power and restore peace and justice in Haiti.