PORT-AU-PRINCE — Gang violence in Haiti’s capital reached a new peak as the Viv Ansanm coalition overran the national police academy in the Delmas district, killing at least 31 officers and capturing a cache of automatic weapons and armored vehicles. The assault, one of the most audacious attacks on state security forces since the 2021 assassination of President Moise, comes with the country’s transitional government effectively paralyzed and no sitting president since February.
Police Academy Overrun
The national police force, already depleted by months of attrition and desertions, has lost control of vast swaths of Port-au-Prince to rival gang coalitions. The Viv Ansanm group — led by brothers James and Joseph Wilson — claimed responsibility and released video of the captured weapons on social media. The footage showed officers in tactical gear surrendering with hands raised. Three senior police officials were among those taken captive.
UN and International Response
The UN mission in Haiti called an emergency session and called on Kenya — which leads the multinational security support mission — to accelerate deployment of additional forces. Kenya has so far deployed roughly 400 officers, well short of the 2,500 authorized under the March 2024 UN resolution. The United States announced it was reviewing additional sanctions on gang-linked officials but provided no timeline. Canada said it would fast-track the deployment of an additional 75 peacekeepers.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
At least 15,000 residents have fled the Delmas area since Monday, adding to the more than 700,000 already displaced across the capital region. The main international airport has reduced operations to a single runway due to gang activity within 3 kilometers of the terminal. Humanitarian organizations warn that food supplies in the Cite Soleil district could run out within two weeks if access corridors are not restored. The World Food Programme said it was preparing emergency rations for up to 50,000 newly displaced people.
Written by Admin, Media Hook