Haitian police kill 16 alleged gang members in Kenscoff operation

PORT-AU-PRINCE — The Haitian National Police (PNH) said at least 16 suspected gang members were killed during an overnight operation in Kenscoff on Feb. 20–21, as authorities intensify anti-gang operations across the country.

In a statement released Saturday, police said specialized units were deployed around midnight in the Godet and Wynn Farm areas of Kenscoff, a hillside commune southeast of the capital. The operation targeted members of armed groups based in Grand Ravine and Village-de-Dieu who have expanded their presence in the area.

According to the PNH communication department, clashes began around 4 a.m. between officers and suspected gang members. The operation included snipers, two drones, support from the prime minister’s task force and security contractors from Erik Prince’s Vectus Global.

“Thanks to a tactical engagement involving the use of snipers and two drones, 16 bandits were fatally wounded,” the Haitian National Police said, noting that the toll remains preliminary.

Authorities described the intervention as the start of a “methodical encirclement” aimed at dismantling gang positions in Kenscoff. Police said they were unable to immediately recover weapons from the scene because of the distance between officers and the suspects’ positions. The pursuit is ongoing, they added.

Kenscoff under repeated assault as police continue broader crackdown

Kenscoff has faced sustained violence since 2025, when gangs linked to the Viv Ansanm coalition launched coordinated attacks on the commune. During an initial assault in January 2025, more than 200 people were killed, dozens were injured and about 3,000 residents — including 721 children — were displaced, according to local authorities and humanitarian groups.

Since then, violence has continued. Armed groups have burned homes, carried out kidnappings and killed law enforcement officers, including soldiers ambushed in April 2025 and security agents stationed at the Teleco telecommunications site.

The start of 2026 brought renewed attacks. On Feb. 11, suspected Viv Ansanm members killed at least one person and set several houses ablaze. Earlier assaults on Jan. 29 and Feb. 8 in the Kay Jak area left at least seven people dead and others kidnapped, residents said.

Saturday’s operation is part of a wider anti-gang campaign launched at the beginning of the year as authorities seek to reclaim territory from armed groups that control much of the capital and key transport routes.

In January, police carried out operations in Bel-Air and Delmas 6, neighborhoods long associated with gang leader Jimmy Cherizier. Authorities reported multiple suspects killed and the seizure of about 33 firearms and more than 12,000 rounds of ammunition.

Additional deployments have taken place in Tabarre, Croix-des-Bouquets and downtown Port-au-Prince. On Feb. 21, police said officers fatally shot two suspected gang members in Delmas 30 while foiling attempted kidnappings.

“As these criminals were preparing to carry out a kidnapping, law enforcement officers immediately intervened,” the police said. “When the suspects attempted to flee, they opened fire on the officers, prompting a response.”

Police have also increased their presence in provincial cities, including Cap-Haïtien, Jacmel and Gonaïves, deploying additional officers and armored vehicles.

Ongoing humanitarian crisis

Despite the stepped-up operations, the security situation remains dire. United Nations agencies estimate that more than 12,000 armed gang members operate across the country, controlling large portions of Port-au-Prince and major roadways linking departments.

More than 1.4 million people remain displaced nationwide, and humanitarian groups warn that access to food, health care and education continues to deteriorate as insecurity spreads.

While authorities present the recent operations as tactical gains, analysts caution that lasting stability will depend on sustained security efforts, institutional reform and expanded international support.

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