Nearly 200 killed in Haiti in attack targeting voodoo practitioners
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A harrowing massacre in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, has left nearly 200 people dead in what is believed to be a targeted attack against voodoo practitioners.
The violence, which unfolded over the weekend, has drawn international condemnation, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres describing it as “horrific” and “unbearable cruelty.”
The killings, which occurred in the western coastal area of Cite Soleil, were allegedly orchestrated by a powerful gang leader. According to the Committee for Peace and Development (CPD), the gang leader blamed voodoo practitioners for his son’s illness and sought retribution. Elderly individuals and followers of the religion were reportedly targeted in their homes, taken to the gang's stronghold, and executed.
Reliable reports indicate over 184 fatalities, including 127 elderly men and women. Victims’ bodies were mutilated and burned in the streets, making recovery and proper burial impossible for many families. One local resident recounted that his 76-year-old father was among the victims, and the gang set his body on fire. “I fear for my remaining family’s safety,” he told AFP speaking anonymously.
Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime condemned the attack, calling it “an act of barbarity and a direct assault on humanity.” The UN has urged the Haitian government to conduct a thorough investigation and reiterated the need for increased international support to assist Haitian police in combating gang violence.
Voodoo, an integral part of Haitian culture brought by African slaves, was banned during colonial times and officially recognized as a religion in 2003. Despite its significance, the practice has long faced prejudice and persecution. The recent attack highlights deep-rooted tensions and societal stigmas that persist in Haiti.
The massacre underscores the worsening security situation in Haiti, where armed gangs now control 80% of Port-au-Prince. Since February, violence has intensified as gangs launch coordinated attacks to challenge government authority. The ongoing instability has displaced more than 700,000 people, half of them children, according to the International Organization for Migration. The weekend’s attack alone forced an additional 5,000 people from their homes.
With the annual death toll nearing 5,000, international efforts, including a Kenyan-led police mission supported by the US and UN, have struggled to curb the violence.