In a devastating incident over the weekend, more than 180 individuals lost their lives in a massacre within one of Haiti’s most impoverished areas, as reported by the UN human rights chief on Monday.
According to a prominent Haitian human rights organisation, the killings stemmed from a gang leader’s personal revenge after being informed that witchcraft had caused his son’s fatal illness.
According to a report from New York Times, the violence erupted on Friday in the Wharf Jeremie area of Cité Soleil, a vast slum in Port-au-Prince, as documented by the national human rights defense network, a capital-based civil rights organisation.
Reports indicate that elderly Vodou practitioners were specifically targeted. This observation was corroborated by another rights group and a resident of Cité Soleil.
In Geneva, UN high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, confirmed at least 184 casualties.
UN reports indicate that over 130 victims were above 60 years old. Gang members reportedly incinerated bodies and disposed of them in the sea.
William O’Neill, the UN’s human rights expert for Haiti, described the situation as a rapid descent into chaos.
Since early this year, Haiti has experienced intense violence, with allied gangs launching attacks on governmental institutions, including law enforcement facilities, correctional centres and medical facilities.
The national human rights defense network reported that gang leader Monel Felix ordered the killings after receiving information from a priest attributing his son’s illness to Vodou. The child passed away on Saturday afternoon, according to the respected rights organisation.
The organisation said that Felix, also known as Micanor Altes or King Micanor, and his associates used machetes and knives in the massacre. The source of this information was not disclosed.
A Cité Soleil resident, speaking anonymously due to safety concerns, confirmed the killings began Friday night, targeting Vodou practitioners. Multiple casualties were reported within single households.
The committee for peace and development noted that younger victims included motorcycle taxi drivers who perished while attempting to rescue others.
The national human rights defense network reported that mutilated bodies were burnt in the streets. Felix remained unreachable for comment, with no public statements regarding the killings.
Wharf Jeremie, a heavily gang-controlled area in the capital, remains largely inaccessible to police. This lack of law enforcement presence delayed reports of the massacre, according to experts monitoring the situation.
Vodou, with West African origins, holds official religious status in Haiti. Its followers believe in the spiritual essence of all living entities. Brought by enslaved people, Vodou coexists with Christianity despite Western misconceptions.
The national human rights defense network indicated Felix’s previous involvement in similar incidents, citing his alleged responsibility for the deaths of 12 elderly female Vodou practitioners in 2021.
UN data shows approximately 5,000 Haitian casualties and 700,000 displaced persons this year due to gang violence. Earlier this year, gang activity led to a prime minister’s departure.
A separate incident two months ago in a farming community 60 miles north of Port-au-Prince resulted in approximately 80 civilian deaths.
Violence persists despite the presence of the UN-backed multinational security support mission, primarily staffed by Kenyan officers.
Last month proved particularly violent in Haiti, with three US aircraft sustaining gunfire during airport operations in Port-au-Prince.
The airport remains closed, with American Airlines suspending services through next year, as reported by the Miami Herald.
Amidst escalating violence, the US has requested UN oversight of the security mission as an official peacekeeping operation to ensure consistent resources. Russia and China have opposed this proposal at the security council.
The security mission recently announced operational expansion with a new base to facilitate international police presence. Their focus includes protecting infrastructure, securing roads and enabling national elections.
The mission recently urged gang leaders to surrender, saying their “time is running out.”
A mission spokesperson indicated no knowledge of the Wharf Jeremie incident. The Haitian national police did not respond to enquiries.
