In a shocking escalation of violence that has shaken even a nation accustomed to turmoil, a gang armed with automatic rifles stormed through a town in Haiti’s main breadbasket region, leaving at least 70 dead and forcing over 6,000 people to flee their homes. The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday in Pont-Sonde, located in the agricultural region of Artibonite in western Haiti, resulted in widespread terror and chaos.
The brutal massacre was claimed by Luckson Elan, the leader of the Gran Grif gang, who justified the attack as retaliation for the town’s residents remaining passive while police and vigilante groups targeted his gang members. The aftermath of the attack saw widespread devastation, with the gang setting fire to countless homes and vehicles.
The UN migration agency reported that approximately 6,270 people have been displaced by the violence, seeking refuge in nearby towns like Saint-Marc or residing in makeshift camps. The Haitian prime minister, Garry Conille, condemned the attack, calling it an “odious crime” against the entire nation.
The massacre serves as a grim reminder of the worsening conflict in Haiti, where armed gangs hold sway over most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and are steadily expanding their control into neighboring regions. This escalating violence has fueled hunger and homelessness, pushing hundreds of thousands into precarious situations.
Despite repeated promises of international support, the response remains inadequate, with neighboring nations resorting to deporting Haitian migrants back to a country grappling with instability. The situation in Artibonite, where the violence has reached its peak outside the capital, has been a source of increasing concern for residents.
The Gran Grif gang, responsible for the massacre, is known for its heinous crimes, including mass kidnappings, rapes, murders, hijackings, forced displacement of farmers, and the recruitment of children. Elan, the gang’s leader, was added to the UN sanctions list last month.
The inaction of police forces during the attack further underscores the dire state of security in Haiti. Bertide Horace, a spokesperson from the Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission to Save the Artibonite Valley, revealed that police remained in their station, potentially overwhelmed by the gang’s firepower.
The massacre has prompted widespread condemnation and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the Haitian government and its ability to protect its citizens. The UN has highlighted the lack of progress in investigating past mass killings, including several major massacres since 2017. The failure to hold perpetrators accountable has emboldened gangs and fuelled a climate of impunity.
The humanitarian crisis in Haiti continues to worsen, with the World Food Programme pointing to the gang’s activities, including extortion, theft, and forced displacement of farmers, as major contributors to rising food prices and shortages. These factors have driven millions into severe food insecurity, with thousands in Port-au-Prince facing famine-like conditions.
Despite the dire situation, Haiti has received only a fraction of the promised resources and has faced challenges in establishing a formal UN peacekeeping mission. While several countries have pledged support, the deployment of troops remains limited, with only around 400 officers, primarily from Kenya, currently on the ground.
The lack of decisive action by the international community has been met with growing frustration from the Haitian government and the people of Haiti. The continued influx of weapons from the United States has further fueled the violence, providing gangs with the means to terrorize the population.
The recent massacre in Pont-Sonde serves as a stark warning of the escalating violence in Haiti. The situation demands urgent action from the international community to address the root causes of the crisis, provide humanitarian assistance, and support the Haitian government in restoring order and security. Without a concerted and comprehensive response, the country risks descending further into chaos and despair.
