Kidnapping in Haiti
An inside look on the mass kidnappings occurring in Haiti.
Kidnappings in Haiti are happening frequently and publicity around the events has increased in the aftermath of the August 14, 2021 earthquake as gangs have been increasingly targeting foreign citizens and people of importance. However, since 2018 almost 95% of kidnapped victims have been Haitian citizens, including clergy men, doctors, and children. A small percentage of the kidnappings have been foreign nationals which receive the most media coverage, and have included French, Canadian, and U.S. citizens. Kidnapping is a critical problem in Haiti incited by ongoing political instability and lawlessness.
Relief organizations have to proceed with caution as it is common to steal from or kidnap their personnel to exploit the organization and its resources. Even native doctors, small town business owners and students are not safe from kidnappings. Below are some stories to highlight the current kidnapping crisis.
Haiti, holds the record of the world’s highest kidnapping rate per capita. The 400 Mawozo was responsible for 80 percent of abductions in Haiti from June through September, according to Gédéon Jean, director of the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights in Port-au-Prince. 400 Mawozo is the gang claiming responsibility for recent kidnappings. Ransom from kidnappings are being used to buy weapons. Targeting rich and poor Haitians, gang violence and kidnappings for ransom have become a tragically common part of life. (Washington Post)
In addition to the 400 Mawozo, Haiti is also home to the “G9 and Family” (G9 an fanmi – G9). They are a criminal federation of nine of the strongest gangs in Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince. Founded in June 2020 by former police officer turned gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, alias "Barbecue," the coalition allowed member gangs to expand their territory and offer politicians a unified weapon with which to suppress their opposition. (Insightcrime)
Formerly linked to since-assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse and his ruling Haitian Tèt Kale Party (Parti Haïtien Tèt Kale – PHTK), for whom the G9 is alleged to have ensured votes and quelled social unrest in gang-controlled neighborhoods, the coalition now threatens to challenge the Haitian state itself, with Chérizier calling for a “revolution” in June 2021. (Insightcrime)
As of 2022, gang related political violence and kidnapping is still occurring but relief efforts are beginning to process. The Final Fiscal Year Bipartisan Funding Bill includes an initiative that will address kidnappings in Haiti. Also, USAID announced in early 2022 that they will provide humanitarian assistance for food insecurity, political instability and related organized crime activities.
(Image credit AP Photo/Joseph Odelyn, File)
Affected areas include but are not limited to: the vicinity of Carrefour Drouillard, Airport Road, Lower Delmas, Santo, Torcelle, downtown/Champs-de-Mars, as well as greater Croix-des-Bouquets, La Saline, Cite Soleil, Carrefour, and Martissant.
Recent Notable Kidnapping Stories
Hijacking of bus with 17 aboard
Hijacking of bus with 17 aboard. Click to expand.
Eight Turkish missionaries (five men and three women), eight Haitians, and the Dominican driver were kidnapped in the late afternoon of May 9th, 2022 in the Croix-des-Bouquets neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. Hugues Josue, Turkey’s honorary consul in Haiti, said the group had boarded a bus in the neighboring Dominican Republic. They are thought to have been kidnapped for ransom. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)
Doctor kidnapped, two hospitals remain closed
Doctor kidnapped, two hospitals remain closed. Click to expand.
Two hospitals, specializing in the care of childhood cancer, COVID-19 and women with high-risk pregnancies remain closed more than a week after they suspended operations to demand the release of one of their doctors, who has been kidnapped, and to protest the violence that’s paralyzing medical care in the country.
Kidnapping of Dominican Diplomat
Kidnapping of Dominican Diplomat. Click to expand.
On April 29, 2022, Dominican authorities to call for the safe release of Ambassador Faruk Miguel Castillo said Guillén Tatis who was kidnapped in the Croix-des-Bouquets district of the Haitian capital. That area is a stronghold of the 400 Mawozo gang.
Kidnapping of 17 Missionaries -US & Canadian
Kidnapping of 17 Missionaries -US & Canadian. Click to expand.
On October 16th 2021, a group of American missionaries were kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang. They are being held for ransom of $1 million each. The group consists of 16 U.S. nationals and 1 Canadian. The ages of the adults being held captive range from 18 to 48. The ages of the children are 8 months, 3 years, 6 years, 13 years, and 15 years. They were abducted while visiting an orphanage in Ganthier as part of their work for Christian Aid Ministries. Two were released in late November and three more were released on December 5th. On December 16th the remaining twelve were released. (Image credit Christian Aid Ministries)
Kidnapping and Murder of Michel Derenoncourt
Kidnapping and Murder of Michel Derenoncourt . Click to expand.
Kidnapped on October 16, 2021 at the corner of Rue Cameau and Avenue Christophe, the kidnappers still held Professor Patrice Michel Derenoncourt, despite the ransom of $900,000 being paid by the family. The news of Professor Derenencourt's death was confirmed by another Professor, Professor Yves Lafortune on Sunday, October 31. He did not give too much detail about this murder.
Kidnapping of Haitian Orthopedic Surgeon
Kidnapping of Haitian Orthopedic Surgeon. Click to expand.
On August 18th, 2021, Dr. Workens Alexandre was abducted gang members on his way to treat victims of the August 2021 earthquake at the Bernard Mevs Hospital. He was held for random and released late in the night of August 20 to 21, 2021. The Bernard Mevs Hospital had 45 out of 48 earthquake victims in need of surgery.
Kidnapping of Haitian Gynecologist
Kidnapping of Haitian Gynecologist. Click to expand.
On August 17, 2021, Dr. Hervé Chéry was on his way to the DASH Hospital in Pétion-Ville to perform a caesarean section when he was abducted by members of a gang. He was held for ransom and released in the early hours of August 21, 2021. Due to the delays from the kidnapping the mother and her child died from lack of treatment. (Image credit Paul Smith/CBC)
10 Kidnapped, 7 Clergy - Haitian and French
10 Kidnapped, 7 Clergy - Haitian and French. Click to expand.
Ten people kidnapped, including seven clergy (two nun and five priests) and three family members. On their way to the installation of a new parish priest in Ganthier. One nun and one priest were of French citizenship and the others were Haitian. The kidnapping occurred in the Village de Noailles @ Croix des Bouquets.
Hijacking of bus with 17 aboard
Eight Turkish missionaries (five men and three women), eight Haitians, and the Dominican driver were kidnapped in the late afternoon of May 9th, 2022 in the Croix-des-Bouquets neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. Hugues Josue, Turkey’s honorary consul in Haiti, said the group had boarded a bus in the neighboring Dominican Republic. They are thought to have been kidnapped for ransom. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)
Doctor kidnapped, two hospitals remain closed
Two hospitals, specializing in the care of childhood cancer, COVID-19 and women with high-risk pregnancies remain closed more than a week after they suspended operations to demand the release of one of their doctors, who has been kidnapped, and to protest the violence that’s paralyzing medical care in the country.
On May 5, 2022 around 6:30am, Dr. Benetty Augustin, a pediatrician who specializes in the care of children with epilepsy, was on her way to the epilepsy clinic at St. Damien Hospital in Tabarre when she was abducted just outside of her gate in the Laboule 12 neighborhood in Petionville. It was a weekly routine for Augustin, 44, who runs the clinic. Twelve days later, she remains captive. Her kidnappers are demanding an undisclosed ransom amount, and it’s much more than the family can afford. (Image credit Miami Herald)
Kidnapping of Dominican Diplomat
On April 29, 2022, Dominican authorities to call for the safe release of Ambassador Faruk Miguel Castillo said Guillén Tatis who was kidnapped in the Croix-des-Bouquets district of the Haitian capital. That area is a stronghold of the 400 Mawozo gang.
He was released May 3 after being kidnapped for four days. (Image Credit: The Wilson Center)
Kidnapping of 17 Missionaries -US & Canadian
On October 16th 2021, a group of American missionaries were kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang. They are being held for ransom of $1 million each. The group consists of 16 U.S. nationals and 1 Canadian. The ages of the adults being held captive range from 18 to 48. The ages of the children are 8 months, 3 years, 6 years, 13 years, and 15 years. They were abducted while visiting an orphanage in Ganthier as part of their work for Christian Aid Ministries. Two were released in late November and three more were released on December 5th. On December 16th the remaining twelve were released. (Image credit Christian Aid Ministries)
Kidnapping and Murder of Michel Derenoncourt
Kidnapped on October 16, 2021 at the corner of Rue Cameau and Avenue Christophe, the kidnappers still held Professor Patrice Michel Derenoncourt, despite the ransom of $900,000 being paid by the family. The news of Professor Derenencourt's death was confirmed by another Professor, Professor Yves Lafortune on Sunday, October 31. He did not give too much detail about this murder.
Kidnapping of Haitian Orthopedic Surgeon
On August 18th, 2021, Dr. Workens Alexandre was abducted gang members on his way to treat victims of the August 2021 earthquake at the Bernard Mevs Hospital. He was held for random and released late in the night of August 20 to 21, 2021. The Bernard Mevs Hospital had 45 out of 48 earthquake victims in need of surgery.
Dr. Workens Alexandre is also the Deputy Medical Director at the Hospital of the Workplace Accident, Sickness and Maternity Insurance Office (OFATMA). This kidnaping coincided with that of Dr. Hervé Chéry. (Image credit AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Kidnapping of Haitian Gynecologist
On August 17, 2021, Dr. Hervé Chéry was on his way to the DASH Hospital in Pétion-Ville to perform a caesarean section when he was abducted by members of a gang. He was held for ransom and released in the early hours of August 21, 2021. Due to the delays from the kidnapping the mother and her child died from lack of treatment. (Image credit Paul Smith/CBC)
10 Kidnapped, 7 Clergy - Haitian and French
Ten people kidnapped, including seven clergy (two nun and five priests) and three family members. On their way to the installation of a new parish priest in Ganthier. One nun and one priest were of French citizenship and the others were Haitian. The kidnapping occurred in the Village de Noailles @ Croix des Bouquets.
Victim were held for a ransom of $1 million, it was not clear if it had been paid. They were released after three weeks in captivity on April 30, 2021. (Image credit Reginald Louissaint Jr/AFP)
Croix-des-Bouquets
Croix-des-Bouquets is situated on the east side of Port-au-Prince
The Croix-des-Bouquets district of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince has become a stronghold of the 400 Mawozo gang. According to WRLN, for almost three centuries Croix-des-Bouquets has been a major center for Haiti’s artistic culture. Famous for the ping-ping sound of artisans hammering out some of the world’s most acclaimed metal artwork; however, the common sounds today are not artists or rara or vodou devotion, but automatic rifle fire. With the neighborhood now being ground zero for the 400 Mawozo gang, there has been an increase in kidnappings and hijackings in the area.
Image credit: WRLN
Areas of Reported Kidnapping
Major Events in Haiti
2022 Kidnapping Statistics
The Crime Observation Unit (COC) of the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights (CARDH) recorded 225 kidnappings for the first quarter of 2022 compared to 142 for that of 2021 an increase of 58, or 45%.
2022 USAID/ BHA Humanitarian Efforts
USAID/BHA announces a new five-year program, to increase resilience and strengthen food security among vulnerable people across the country.
2021 Kidnapping Statistics
According to CARDH, more than 1,200 people were kidnapped in 2021, only 81 of the victims were foreign nationals. Ten percent of the kidnappings were "collective abductions", where gang members abducted a group of people.
2021 Earthquake
According to CARDH, On Saturday August 14, 2021, at around 8:29 am, the departments of South, Nippes and Grand’Anse were savagely hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake 7.2. It occurred 13 km south-south-east of Petit Trou de Nippes and 10 km deep. The whole country felt the first shock. Other aftershocks followed. With a confirmed 2,248 people dead.
2021 Assassination of Haiti's President
Haiti's President Jovenel Moïse (age 53) was assassinated in his private residence in the capital, Port-au-Prince, on 7 July. He was shot dead inside his home in the Pelerin 5 neighbourhood, in the hills above Port au Prince. Police say the murder happened at 01:00 local time (05:00 GMT) on 7 July. The president was shot 12 times and had additional injuries inflicted. A group of mainly foreign mercenaries - 26 Colombians and two Haitian Americans - composed the group that carried out the killing. Most of the Colombian detainees have been identified as former soldiers, including a lieutenant-colonel. Police chief Léon Charles alleged that Haitian national Christian Emmanuel Sanon had hired 26 of the 28-strong hit squad through a Miami-based company called CTU, run by Venezuelan national Tony Intriago.
2020 Hurricane Laura
On 23 August, 2020 Hurricane Laura was a deadly and destructive Category 4 hurricane that killed 31 people in Haiti and four in the Dominican Republic.
2020 Kidnapping Statistics
According to CARDH, there were a total of 796 reported kidnappings in Haiti total. The actual numbers were likely to be much higher, it said, as many people do not report abductions, fearing retaliation from the gangs.
2016 Hurricane Matthew
The hurricane killed more than 600 people, displaced an estimated 175,000, and affected 2.1 million people. Most of the homes in its path could not stand the force of its impact which blew away roofs and walls, destroying an estimated 90 percent of homes in the worst hit areas. Of the 2.1 million people affected by the storm, 1.4 million were left in urgent need of humanitarian assistance in its wake. Damage and losses resulting from the hurricane are estimated to be US$2.8 billion, or 32 percent of the country’s GNP. (Refugee International)
2010 Earthquake
According to NPR, The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti in Jan. 12, 2010, left 220,000 people dead, 300,000 injured and rubble nearly everywhere.
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