What's happened
A gang leader in Haiti ordered the massacre of at least 110 people, primarily targeting elderly Vodou practitioners, after his child fell ill. Reports indicate that the death toll could be as high as 184. The violence occurred in the gang-controlled area of Cité Soleil over the weekend.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, 'close to 200 people were killed in brutal violence in Haiti’s capital over the weekend,' with many victims being Vodou practitioners targeted by a gang leader convinced of witchcraft's role in his child's illness. The Independent reported that the gang leader, Micanor Altès, ordered the killings, claiming that elderly community members were responsible for his son's death. Meanwhile, the UN's Volker Türk stated that at least 184 people were killed, emphasizing the staggering toll of violence in Haiti this year, which has reached 5,000 deaths. The South China Morning Post noted that the gang's control over communication has hindered accurate reporting of the massacre, reflecting the broader issue of gang dominance in the region.
How we got here
Haiti has been plagued by escalating gang violence, particularly in Port-au-Prince, where armed groups control significant areas. The recent massacre is part of a broader pattern of violence linked to accusations of witchcraft against Vodou practitioners, exacerbated by the gang leader's personal tragedy.
More on these topics
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Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti formerly founded as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, to the east of Cuba and Jamaica and south of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos
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The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization, headquartered in New York City, that conducts research and advocacy on human rights.
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Port-au-Prince is the capital and most populous city of Haiti. The city's population was estimated at 987,310 in 2015 with the metropolitan area estimated at a population of 2,618,894.