Haiti Massacre: Over 180 Killed After Gang Leader Targets Voodoo Practitioners
Haiti is reeling from one of the deadliest massacres in its recent history, where over 180 people were killed in the impoverished Cité Soleil area of Port-au-Prince. The killings, which occurred on December 6 and 7, were reportedly carried out under the orders of gang leader Micanor “Mikanò” Altès, who blamed Voodoo practitioners for his child’s grave illness.
Massacre Triggered by Voodoo Accusations
According to Haiti’s National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH), the violence began when Micanor sought advice from a Voodoo priest (“bòkò”) about his child’s illness. The priest allegedly accused elderly residents in Wharf Jérémie of practicing witchcraft and causing the child’s condition.
“On December 6, Micanor shot and killed at least 60 elderly individuals,” the RNDDH reported. “The following day, he and his group used machetes and knives to kill 50 more. Despite the killings, the child passed away.”
Haiti’s Committee for Peace and Development (CPD) corroborated the targeting of elderly people and Voodoo practitioners. The bodies of victims, many of them mutilated, were left in the streets as a grim reminder of the attack.
Death Toll and Growing Violence
The United Nations confirmed that at least 184 people were killed in the massacre, including 127 elderly men and women. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk described the killings as “staggering,” noting that over 5,000 Haitians have died in gang-related violence this year alone.
Wharf Jérémie remains under what RNDDH describes as an “informal siege,” with gang violence continuing to target elderly residents and Voodoo adherents.
Government Pledges Action
Haiti’s transitional government has vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable. “A red line has been crossed,” read a statement from the Prime Minister’s office. “The State will mobilize all its forces to track down and annihilate these criminals.”
This massacre is the latest in a year-long wave of violence orchestrated by the Viv Ansamn gang alliance. Gangs have been attacking state institutions, including prisons, police stations, and the international airport, displacing hundreds of thousands of residents across Port-au-Prince.
International Response and Call for Action
The escalating chaos has drawn international attention, leading to the deployment of a multinational policing force (MSS) earlier this year. However, the force has struggled to contain the violence. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged member states to increase support for the mission and called for an immediate investigation into the massacre.
Haiti’s National Police insisted that its joint operations with the MSS remain effective, dismissing rumors of discord between the two forces.
A Nation in Crisis
As Haiti grapples with the aftermath of this brutal massacre, the humanitarian and security situation in the country continues to deteriorate. The massacre underscores the deepening gang violence and the challenges faced by local and international forces in restoring stability to the embattled Caribbean nation.
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