Haiti, a country already plagued by widespread gang violence and political instability, was hit by a devastating attack in the early hours of Thursday, October 3, 2024. The town of Pont Sonde, located 100 kilometers northwest of the capital Port-au-Prince, became the scene of a massacre that left at least 70 people dead, dozens of homes and vehicles destroyed, and many residents fleeing for their lives. The attack, carried out by the notorious Gran Grif gang, has reignited concerns over the country’s escalating crisis as it grapples with the dual challenges of rampant gang violence and political turmoil.
The Haitian government responded to the attack by deploying specialist anti-gang police units, with reinforcements from a Kenyan-led international policing mission that was recently authorized to operate in Haiti. However, the attack underscores the monumental challenges that Haiti faces in reining in powerful armed groups, restoring order, and preparing for long-overdue national elections. This latest act of violence is not just a tragedy for the immediate victims but a stark reflection of a broader national crisis.
The Attack on Pont Sonde
In the early hours of Thursday morning, gang members from the Gran Grif gang stormed the town of Pont Sonde, opening fire on residents indiscriminately. According to the United Nations, at least 70 people were killed, including 10 women and three infants. Survivors described scenes of utter horror as gunfire rang out in the dark, while flames engulfed homes and vehicles. The UN Human Rights Office stated that gang members used automatic rifles to attack civilians, killing without hesitation.
The destruction went beyond the immediate loss of life. Gang members reportedly set fire to 45 houses and 34 vehicles during the rampage, leaving the town in ruins. Many residents fled in terror, though the exact number of displaced persons remains unknown. In addition to the dead, 16 people were seriously injured, including two gang members who were shot by police in the course of the attack.
The Gran Grif gang is one of the many armed groups that have risen to prominence in Haiti over the past several years. Like other gangs operating in the country, Gran Grif is heavily armed, controlling territory through a mix of violence and intimidation. They are part of a broader web of gangs that have increasingly filled the power vacuum left by a weakening state, turning large parts of the country into lawless zones.
A Nation Under Siege by Gang Violence
This latest attack comes amid a broader wave of violence that has gripped Haiti for years, but which has escalated dramatically in 2024. According to the United Nations, over 3,600 people have been killed in gang violence this year alone. The violence is widespread, with gangs controlling much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and many other areas in the country. Gangs regularly clash with police and with rival groups, while also extorting businesses, kidnapping civilians, and launching attacks on communities.
The rise of gang violence is partly a result of Haiti’s long-standing political instability. Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, the country has struggled to maintain order, with a succession of weak governments unable to assert control. The country’s police force, the Haitian National Police (HNP), has been severely under-resourced and overwhelmed by the scale of the challenge. Many police officers have been killed in the line of duty, while others have been corrupted or intimidated by the gangs.
In this environment, armed groups have flourished, with some politicians even allegedly using them to further their own agendas. Last week, the U.S. Treasury announced sanctions against a member of parliament from the Artibonite Department, where Pont Sonde is located, accusing him of helping to form the Gran Grif gang in order to secure his election in 2016. This fusion of criminality and politics has made it even harder for the Haitian state to restore order.
The Government’s Response
In response to the attack in Pont Sonde, the Haitian government issued a strongly worded condemnation, calling the massacre “unacceptable” and promising a swift and coordinated response. Prime Minister Garry Conille, who was recently installed as part of a transitional government, stated that the “heinous crime, perpetrated against defenseless women, men, and children, is not only an attack on these victims but on the entire Haitian nation.”
The Haitian National Police, which has been severely stretched in trying to contain the wave of violence, announced that it would step up its efforts. The government said that agents from the Temporary Anti-Gang Unit (UTAG) had been deployed to the area as reinforcements for the local police. However, given the HNP’s limited resources and the sheer scale of gang control across the country, many Haitians remain skeptical about the government’s ability to stop the violence.
The Kenyan-led international policing mission, which was recently deployed to Haiti with the backing of the United Nations, also sent additional security forces to Pont Sonde following the attack. This mission is part of a broader effort by the international community to help Haiti regain control of gang-affected areas, especially in the capital and surrounding regions. The United Nations extended its mandate for the mission in recent weeks, reflecting the recognition that Haiti’s security crisis requires outside intervention.
A Long History of Political and Humanitarian Crisis
Haiti’s gang crisis cannot be understood without reference to the broader political and humanitarian situation in the country. For decades, Haiti has struggled with weak institutions, corruption, and chronic poverty. These issues have been exacerbated by natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes, as well as by international interventions that have often been ill-conceived or poorly executed.
The assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021 was a key turning point in the current crisis. Moïse had ruled by decree since January 2020, after the country failed to hold parliamentary elections, and his presidency had been marked by widespread protests and allegations of corruption. His death threw the country into further chaos, with no clear succession plan in place.
Ariel Henry, who was appointed as prime minister shortly after Moïse’s assassination, struggled to gain legitimacy and faced widespread opposition. Earlier this year, armed groups attempted to oust Henry, attacking police stations and even targeting the international airport. Under pressure from both domestic and international actors, Henry resigned in 2024, paving the way for the transitional government led by Garry Conille.
Conille’s government is tasked with restoring security and leading the country to its first national elections since 2016. However, given the scale of the violence and the entrenched power of the gangs, many observers are doubtful that elections can take place in the near future. Even if they do, the question of whether they will lead to meaningful change remains open.
International Involvement and Future Prospects
The Kenyan-led international policing mission represents the latest attempt by the international community to stabilize Haiti. The mission’s mandate, recently extended by the United Nations, is to provide support to the Haitian government in securing areas under gang control, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince. This mission is part of a broader international effort that includes humanitarian aid, economic support, and diplomatic pressure.
However, Haiti’s history with international interventions is fraught with complications. The country has been the site of multiple interventions over the past few decades, with varying degrees of success. The legacy of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), which was deployed after the 2004 coup that ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, remains deeply controversial, with many Haitians blaming the mission for a cholera outbreak and other failures.
The question now is whether the Kenyan-led mission can avoid the mistakes of past interventions and provide the Haitian government with the support it needs to restore security. But even if the immediate threat posed by the gangs can be addressed, Haiti will still face long-term challenges in rebuilding its political institutions, tackling corruption, and addressing the deep-seated economic problems that have left so many of its people in poverty.
Conclusion
The massacre in Pont Sonde is a stark reminder of the depths of Haiti’s current crisis. The country is facing a perfect storm of political instability, gang violence, and humanitarian disaster, with no easy solutions in sight. While the Haitian government and its international partners are making efforts to restore order, the road ahead will be long and fraught with difficulties. For the people of Pont Sonde and other communities across Haiti, the immediate need is for security and protection. But in the longer term, the country will need far-reaching reforms to address the root causes of its chronic instability. Only then can Haiti hope to break the cycle of violence and build a better future for its people.
