Over 40 Killed in Violent Gang Attack in Haiti's Kenscoff Neighborhood

More than 40 people have been killed in a violent gang attack on a neighbourhood overlooking Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince. The latest wave of violence in the region has sparked calls for the police chief to step down, and anger over a lack of protection. What's next? The UN-backed Gang Suppression Force, which is mandated to help police fight gangs, aims to reach a capacity of more than 5,500 troops. A deadly overnight gang raid in a neighbourhood overlooking the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, has claimed the lives of 47 people and injured 22 more. The hillside community of Kenscoff has suffered a dozen attacks by armed gangs since last year, forcing thousands to flee their homes, with the latest raid sparking calls for the police chief to step down. Haitian rights group RNDDH estimated 30 to 40 people were killed and 15 to 20 wounded in the raid, which began Monday evening around 10:30 pm local time (12:30pm Tuesday AEST), but said it was difficult to assess a complete tally. Even as Haiti's government decried a "heinous attack" and promised to reinforce security, residents demanded the local police chief step down, saying officers failed to protect people killed just minutes from the police station. "Kenscoff will not be abandoned," the prime minister's office said on social media. "The government's authority will be restored without weakness and without delay." Gang members not counted among the dead Attacks in Kenscoff over two months in early 2025 saw more than 260 people killed and 200 homes destroyed or set on fire, forcing 3,000 people to flee, according to UN estimates. Nearly a dozen more attacks have taken place since, including rapes, kidnapping, arson and livestock theft. "My family are victims," said Coriolan Kendy, standing by his cousin's body, lying on the road in a blood-stained sheet. "People in Kenscoff are suffering, and the government is to blame." Some residents said several dozen police had tried to rebuff the armed men during the night, and some were injured. They added that they did not identify gang members among the dead. Local media said several houses were set on fire, including the home of Jean William Pape, a leading public health expert. "The police never gave up," national police chief Vladimir Paraison told reporters during a visit to Kenscoff later in the day. Kenscoff overlooks routes into Petion-Ville — home to several embassies, upscale hotels and the temporary seat of government — as well as a major road from the capital into southern Haiti. The UN-backed Gang Suppression Force, which is mandated to help police fight gangs, aims to reach a capacity of more than 5,500 troops. A spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions on whether the troops were reinforcing Kenscoff security. REUTERS/ABC