Capital city of Haiti, epicenter of upheaval and resilience
UN and local officials report heavy fighting in Kenscoff, near Port-au-Prince, with dozens dead and hundreds displaced. Gangs linked to Viv Ansanm are blamed for mass abductions and arson; international actors call for increased security and a credible path to elections.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the Interior Department to change the U.S. federal name for Lake Ontario to "Lake America" and has said the change is effective immediately. The move comes as Washington and Ottawa have imposed 50% tariffs on billions of dollars of each other's goods and Canadian leaders have rejected the renaming.
A weekend attack on Kenscoff, above Port-au-Prince, has escalated violence as a gang leader threatens to execute hostages if police harm gang members. Authorities warn the assault tests Haiti’s security and political process ahead of December elections. Survivors and officials describe widespread destruction and shifting strategy by police and UN-backed forces.
The administration has ended Temporary Protected Status for Haiti and other nations, and deportations are expanding. ICE has shifted from criminal targeting to people in limbo, asylum seekers, and long-term residents, with thousands already detained or facing removal as flights increase and new detention capacity is built.
Haiti faces intensified gang violence as Kenscoff attacks escalate. Police have offered little detail on operations, while the UN notes a mounting civilian toll and the likely December elections proceed amid insecurity.
AP and other sources report the FAA has extended a ban on commercial flights into Port-au-Prince, halting flights below 10,000 feet amid rampant gang violence. The measure, first imposed after a 2025 incident, remains in effect until March 2, as authorities fight to quell gang control in the capital and central Haiti.
UNICEF confirms three children under 2, a 7-year-old and two teenagers have been released from a major Kenscoff abduction. Dozens remain captive as violence continues to fuel displacement, with authorities deploying a joint police-military force to secure stability.
Gangs attacked Kenscoff, killing 47 and kidnapping over 50. Survivors mourn as police investigate whether negligence or complicity enabled the carnage. Some residents released after intervention, while elections loom amid spikes in violence and displacement.
Multiple suspects linked to the 2021 assassination of Haiti’s president have been extradited to the United States for trial in Florida, where prosecutors are pursuing conspiracy and murder charges. The move underscores a long-running effort to hold all participants accountable as Haiti grapples with gang violence and political instability.
A makeshift migrant boat capsized west of Mona Island, Puerto Rico. The Coast Guard has rescued 49 and is searching for 10 others after a struggle that left at least three dead; most aboard were from the Dominican Republic, with some from Haiti. The incident follows a history of dangerous Mona Passage crossings.
Somalia has announced parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for 2027 as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term transitions, amid opposition resistance and regional pushback over party-based electoral reforms. The government says the process aims to reinforce democracy, while critics warn of potential fragmentation and conflict.
Four Salvadoran aviation technicians have gone missing after an armoured vehicle was ambushed and set on fire in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti. El Salvador has launched a military operation and is sending more soldiers to recover them; Haiti’s government has said their release is a top priority while fighting with gangs continues in the area.
Gangs in Haiti, including 400 Mawozo, are under pressure from Haitian authorities and foreign troops. The group advocates dialogue and claims civilians should be protected, while international forces are urged to respect international law and support the state. Leaders call for de-escalation as security operations continue.