Haiti’s government has condemned a brutal gang massacre that left at least 180 people dead over the weekend in Port-au-Prince, calling it a “red line” crossed by the country’s criminal organizations.
The killings, allegedly orchestrated by notorious gang leader Micanor “Mikanò” Altès, were said to have been triggered by the death of his child, who he believed was cursed by witchcraft.
According to a statement from the Haitian Prime Minister’s office, the massacre took place on December 6 and 7 in the impoverished neighborhood of Cité Soleil, a hotbed of gang violence. Micanor, who leads a gang under the Viv Ansamn alliance, allegedly sought the counsel of a Voodoo priest, who accused elderly residents of the Wharf Jérémie area of practicing witchcraft and casting a harmful spell on his child. In retaliation, Micanor ordered the execution of elderly men and women suspected of practicing Voodoo.
“The massacre was triggered by the severe illness of his child,” stated the National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH). “Micanor sought advice from a Voodoo priest who blamed the elderly people in the area for the child’s illness.” Despite the mass killings, Micanor’s child reportedly passed away.
The RNDDH report reveals that on the first day of the attack, Micanor’s gang killed at least 60 elderly individuals. The following day, they slaughtered at least 50 more victims using machetes and knives. In total, at least 184 people were killed, including 127 elderly victims, with their bodies often mutilated and left in the streets.
The Committee for Peace and Development (CPD) confirmed that the attack appeared to be directed specifically at elderly people and Voodoo practitioners. Sources in the area described a scene of devastation, with the massacre instilling widespread fear among the community.
The United Nations condemned the massacre, with Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stating that the killings bring the death toll in Haiti for 2024 to a staggering 5,000 people. The latest violence underscores the ongoing brutality that has gripped Haiti, as gangs continue to control large swaths of the capital.
In response to the violence, Haiti’s transitional government vowed to take action. A statement from the Prime Minister’s office said, “A red line has been crossed, and the State will mobilize all its forces to track down and annihilate these criminals.” The government pledged to hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions.
The massacre comes amid a worsening security situation in Haiti, where gangs under the Viv Ansamn alliance have been terrorizing Port-au-Prince for over a year. These gangs have attacked state institutions, including prisons, police stations, and the international airport, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.
The international community has already taken steps to address the growing crisis, deploying a multinational policing force to Haiti earlier this year. However, the so-called MSS (Multinational Security Support) mission has struggled to contain the violence. In a press conference on Monday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on member states to provide additional support to the mission and to investigate the recent massacre.
Over the weekend, Haiti’s National Police claimed that joint operations with the US-backed MSS were proceeding smoothly, dismissing online rumors that the two forces were not cooperating effectively. Despite these assurances, the violence in Port-au-Prince continues to escalate, leaving many questioning the effectiveness of the international intervention.
