3 Haitian Soldiers Killed by Gangs Outside Port-au-Prince
On Sunday, three Haitian soldiers were killed by gangs in a coordinated ambush on the outskirts of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. The island has been facing a rapidly escalating gang insurgency since March 4, 2024, which has claimed the lives of dozens of Haitian and foreign soldiers. The violence has also resulted in the deaths of at least 5,601 individuals, according to the United Nations Human Rights Office.
According to an official statement released by the Government of Haiti via its X account, the soldiers were ambushed and killed in the Kenscoff area, where the government had been conducting a major security operation targeting a coalition of gangs known as Viv Ansanm.
It is with profound sadness and deep emotion that the Government of the Republic announces the loss of three of our brave soldiers, who fell this Sunday in Kenscoff in the line of duty.
Primature de la République d’Haïti
A video reportedly circulating on social media appears to show Haitian troops removing the bodies of three fallen comrades from an armored personnel carrier, indicating that the ambush likely took place while the unit was on patrol. In its official statement, the Haitian government vowed to continue the fight for the security, honor, and sovereignty of the Haitian people, declaring that this struggle would persist with unwavering determination until victory is achieved.
The Haitian State, at its highest level, remains fully mobilized in the fight against insecurity. This struggle for security, dignity, and the sovereignty of the Haitian people is a national priority. And it is a battle we will fight together, with courage, discipline, and unity, until victory is achieved. We refuse to surrender a single inch of our soil to fear. We refuse to let violence dictate our future. This battle belongs to the entire Haitian people. And this battle, we will win.
Primature de la République d’Haïti