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Deadly weekend raids in Haiti's gang-controlled zone
Police in central Haiti are attempting to access an area dominated by the Gran Grif gang after a series of attacks over the weekend left at least 16 people dead. Local reports suggest the death toll could be significantly higher, with estimates ranging from 20 to 70 fatalities.
Coordinated assault displaces thousands
Residents of Jean-Denis, near Petite-Rivière de l'Artibonite, described a brutal onslaught beginning in the early hours of Sunday. Witnesses told Le Nouvelliste that gang members arrived from multiple directions, setting homes ablaze and shooting at fleeing civilians. Survivors reported discovering bodies scattered along roads the following morning.
A second attack reportedly occurred on Monday, though the ongoing presence of armed gang members has prevented many locals from recovering the dead. At least 19 others sustained gunshot wounds, according to the ombudsman's office, which noted that verification efforts remain hampered by the volatile security situation.
Gang leader's defection raises alarms
Romain Le Cour Grandmaison, director of the Haiti Observatory at the Global Initiative, told the BBC the assault appeared highly coordinated, with roads blocked to thwart police intervention. He highlighted the role of a commander known as "Ti Kenken," a former vigilante leader who recently joined Gran Grif.
"Vigilante brigades are often seen as essential partners for holding territory and supporting the police-but what happens when allegiances shift?"
Romain Le Cour Grandmaison, Global Initiative
Le Cour Grandmaison warned that such defections risk further fragmenting Haiti's security landscape, as figures like Ti Kenken move fluidly between roles as vigilantes, criminals, and police allies.
History of violence in Artibonite
The mainly agricultural Artibonite region has been a frequent target of gang violence. In October 2024, Gran Grif members killed over 100 people in Pont-Sondé, accusing residents of collaborating with a rival gang. The U.S. designated Gran Grif a Foreign Terrorist Organization in May 2025, citing its role in destabilizing Haiti alongside the Viv Ansanm gang coalition.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated at the time that the groups aimed to establish "a gang-controlled state where illicit trafficking and other criminal activities operate freely."
International forces struggle to intervene
The multinational police force (MSS) deployed in 2024 to support Haiti's security forces has been outgunned and outnumbered in gang strongholds. A larger UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) is set to replace the MSS, with the first officers expected to arrive in April.
Meanwhile, an estimated 6,000 people have fled the latest attacks, according to local rights activists, who blame Gran Grif for the bloodshed.
