Haiti gang violence triggers urgent UN Security Council session

The United Nations Security Council has convened an urgent session to address extreme violence in Haiti following a massacre in Kenscoff, near Port-au-Prince. On August 23, approximately 150 heavily armed gang members attacked the commune, resulting in at least 47 deaths, including five minors, and leaving dozens wounded. During the assault, gang members reportedly executed 22 people in a church courtyard and kidnapped 52 individuals, including children, threatening further executions if security operations continue.

The United States has urged the international community to renew the mandate of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) before it expires in late September. U.S. representative Jennifer Locetta called for increased contributions of troops, police, equipment, and funding, stating that “terrorists cannot terrorize while they steal Haiti’s future.”

Human rights officials noted that the ongoing illicit flow of firearms and ammunition continues to empower these groups, despite a UN arms embargo in place since 2022. Recent social media footage appeared to show new shipments of weapons arriving in Port-au-Prince, highlighting the difficulty of controlling the illegal arms trade.