At least 50 people were killed and dozens wounded in an attack by armed gangs in Kenscoff, a town about 10 kilometers from Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, local media reported.
The attack, described as a “major operation” aimed at taking control of the area, also resulted in the burning of 100 houses, according to an independent civil society organization.
Haiti’s National Police spokesman Michel-Ange Louis Jeune said security forces killed 20 gang members during the operation and that measures were being taken to restore order.
Reinforcements were sent to the city after local security forces were overwhelmed.
Haiti, a country of more than 11 million people, has been grappling with a political, economic and security crisis for years.
Armed gangs currently control about 80 percent of Port-au-Prince, and violence continues to escalate. In 2024 alone, more than 5,000 people were killed in gang-related attacks.
The country’s instability has led to frequent changes in leadership.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned on 25 April 2024 amid the crisis, and the Transitional Council appointed Garry Conille as his successor. Conille was replaced on 11 November by businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aime.
