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2024 Cité Soleil massacre

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2024 Cité Soleil massacre
Part of Gang war in Haiti
LocationCité Soleil, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
DateDecember 6–7, 2024 (2024-12-06 – 2024-12-07)
TargetElderly practitioners of Haitian Vodou
Attack type
Stabbing
WeaponsMachetes, knives, firearms
Deaths184
PerpetratorWharf Jeremie gang
Gang war in Haiti
Background
Battles
Attacks

On 6 and 7 December 2024, the commune of Cité Soleil in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was the site of a massacre perpetrated by a gang controlling the area of Wharf Jeremie, leaving at least 184 people dead according to the U.N.[1][2] Elderly Haitian Vodou practitioners were reportedly the primary targets.[1]

The death toll of 184 fatalities, if confirmed, makes the massacre the most deadly gang incident in Haiti in 2024.[3]

Attack

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According to the National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH), Monel "Mikano" Felix, leader of the Wharf Jeremie gang, ordered the attack on elderly practitioners of Haitian Vodou after a vodou priest blamed the terminal illness of Felix's son on witchcraft conducted in the slum of Cité Soleil.[4] On Friday, 6 December 2024, gang members affiliated with Felix killed at least 60 people, and more than 50 individuals were killed the following day when Felix's child died.[5][4][3] The killings were carried out with machetes, other knives, and firearms.[4][3] At least 127 of the victims were elderly (over 60 years of age), although local witnessed attested that some younger people who attempted to intervene with the attacks were also killed.[6][7]

International news of the massacre did not emerge until 8 December 2024, which RNDDH blamed on heavily restricted internet access in gang-controlled areas of Port-au-Prince.[5]

Responses

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The Haitian government called the massacre an act of "unbearable cruelty".[4] The prime minister's office promised to "mobilize all forces to track down and annihilate" the responsible parties.[6] UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the government to "conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that perpetrators of these and all other human rights abuses and violations are brought to justice".[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b Robles, Frances (8 December 2024). "Massacre in Haiti's Capital Leaves Nearly 200 Dead, U.N. Says". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  2. ^ Sanon, Evens; Coto, Dánica (2024-12-09). "A gang leader in Haiti is accused of massacring older people to avenge his son's death". Associated Press. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  3. ^ a b c Buschschlüter, Vanessa (2024-12-09). "Haiti gang kills 110 people leader accused of witchcraft". BBC. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Haiti gang kills 184 people over witchcraft accusation, UN says". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  5. ^ a b Isaac, Harold (8 December 2024). "Haiti Gang Massacres at Least 110 People in Cite Soleil, Rights Groups Says". Reuters. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  6. ^ a b Isaac, Harold (2024-12-09). "Haiti gang massacres around 180 people, targeting elderly". Reuters.
  7. ^ "Almost 200 massacred in Haiti as Vodou practitioners reportedly targeted". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 2024-12-09. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
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