Haiti experienced a surge in gang violence in 2024, with over 5,600 deaths, thousands injured or kidnapped, and widespread atrocities, including massacres and lynchings. Gangs control much of Port-au-Prince, exploiting the nation’s political instability. Despite a Kenyan-led police mission supported by the U.S. and UN, violence persists. The UN highlighted impunity and corruption as major issues, urging stronger rule of law, accountability for police abuses, and sustained international support to restore stability and protect human rights.
Casualties and Scale of Violence
- Over 5,600 deaths in Haiti in 2024, a significant increase from 2023.
- Thousands more injured or kidnapped.
Control and Instability
- Gangs dominate most of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
- Decades of political instability and growing gang power exacerbate the crisis.
Specific Incidents
- December 2024 Massacre:
- 207 killed in the Cite Soleil area by Wharf Jeremie gang.
- Victims included elderly individuals accused of voodoo.
- Brutal methods: dismemberment and burning of victims.
Human Rights Violations
- UN documented 315 lynchings of gang members or associates, sometimes involving police facilitation.
- 281 cases of alleged summary executions by specialized police units.
Reference: UN
