Violence has been reported in Haiti's Artibonite department, particularly in Petite-Rivière de l'Artibonite, involving clashes attributed to the Gran Grif gang and local vigilante groups. The incidents, which occurred on a recent Sunday and continued into Monday, resulted in fatalities, injuries, and significant displacement of residents, according to various reports from law enforcement, human rights organizations, and humanitarian workers.
Recent Incidents
On Sunday morning, attacks were reported in the Jean-Denis neighborhood of Petite-Rivière de l'Artibonite. Subsequent reports indicated that armed groups also targeted the Pont-Sondé area of the Artibonite department through Monday. Civilians were shot, and multiple homes were set ablaze during these events.
Sources indicate that gang members divided into groups, established barricades, and dug trenches on critical entry and exit routes.
Bertide Horace, a spokesperson from the Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission to Save the Artibonite Valley, reported that gangs initially operated without immediate police presence, with police units arriving by Monday noon, leading to the retreat of some gang members.
Casualty and Displacement Figures
Initial reports from Haitian law enforcement confirmed 16 fatalities on Sunday. Human rights groups, including Defenders Plus and RNDDH, estimated the death toll increased to 70 by Monday as the attacks persisted.
A spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres acknowledged varying death toll estimates, ranging from 10 to 80 victims, and called for a full investigation.
In terms of injuries, hospital officials reported receiving at least 15 injured individuals at Hospital Saint Nicolas in Saint Marc, including a 13-year-old, with seven requiring major surgery. Human rights organizations reported approximately 30 injured individuals, while police initially reported 10, and civil protection officials estimated 19 wounded.
The attacks led to the destruction of dozens of houses by fire. Defenders Plus reported nearly 6,000 individuals were displaced from their homes. Earlier UN reports noted over 2,000 people were displaced by similar gang raids in nearby Verrettes, causing residents of Petite-Rivière to flee.
Involvement of Gran Grif Gang
The Gran Grif gang has been identified as a primary actor in the recent violence. Washington previously designated the Gran Grif gang as a foreign terrorist organization, and in March, the United States offered a reward of up to $3 million for information concerning its financial operations.
The United Nations reports that Gran Grif is the largest gang in the Artibonite region and is reportedly responsible for 80% of civilian deaths there.
The UN has also attributed massacres, rapes (including of a minor), forced displacement of thousands, and dismemberments to the gang.
Emergence of Vigilante Groups
The recent events occurred within a broader context of conflict between the Gran Grif gang and local vigilante groups. Vigilante groups began forming in Haiti around 2023 to counter gang influence.
These groups have been reported to cordon off neighborhoods and use violent methods against suspected gang members, including stoning, dismemberment, beheadings, and burning, sometimes while individuals are alive. The presence of these groups has added complexity to the security situation in the country.
Broader Context of Violence in Haiti
The violence is consistent with the ongoing gang warfare that has affected Haiti for five years, intensifying after the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Gang control has expanded beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince, into the Artibonite and Central departments.
A recent UN report detailed at least 26 gangs operating in Port-au-Prince, controlling key routes and impacting food supplies. Since 2021, gang violence in Haiti has displaced over one million people and contributed to nearly 20,000 deaths.
The Artibonite department, known as Haiti's "breadbasket," is a vital agricultural region. The destruction and displacement have made it challenging for residents to return and access food supplies.
The United Nations has expressed concern about the attacks, urging Haitian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and highlighting the severe security situation.
International efforts to stabilize Haiti, including the anticipated deployment of a multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF), are underway. Haitian security forces, supported by a UN-backed international mission and a US private military contractor, have increased operations against gangs, though major gang leaders have not yet been captured.