The UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have released a report detailing a massacre orchestrated by the Wharf Jérémie criminal gang in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Taking place between December 6 and 11, the gang executed at least 207 individuals, including 134 men and 73 women. The brutal actions were allegedly driven by the gang leader’s belief that Vodou priests and elderly individuals were responsible for his son’s illness. In a bid to obliterate evidence of their crimes, the gang employed extreme measures such as burning bodies with gasoline and dismembering them before discarding them into the sea. For further details, refer to the UN News report.
Historically embroiled in violent confrontations with rival gangs in the region since June 2022, the Wharf Jérémie gang has been part of an escalating crisis of violence in Haiti. This situation has been compounded by ineffective governance and a paralyzed justice system, contributing significantly to the ongoing humanitarian crisis and erosion of legal frameworks in the country. More on the governance issues in Haiti can be found in this Jurist analysis.
While the violence has claimed over 5,350 lives and injured 2,155 people this year alone, the Port-au-Prince prosecutor’s office has yet to take decisive action against the executions. This inaction reflects a broader lack of intervention in response to crimes tracked by BINUH and OHCHR since 2022, highlighting significant lapses in law enforcement and judicial action.
María Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti and head of BINUH, called for the Haitian justice system to conduct a comprehensive investigation into these heinous crimes, urging the prompt establishment of a specialized judicial unit to address such incidents. The implications of these crimes, viewed as assaults on the vulnerable and fundamental to Haitian society, necessitate urgent redress. The report emphasizes continued international intervention through the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in line with Security Council resolutions to help the Haitian National Police restore order and security. Details on these resolutions and the role of the international community can be found in the BINUH documentation.
Further recommendations include robust sanctions to prevent the transfer of arms to Haiti, in accordance with Security Council resolutions 2653, 2700, and 2752. For comprehensive coverage of the report, visit Jurist.