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Situation in Haiti
- At least 184 people were killed in Wharf Jeremie, in Cité Soleil, on 6 and 7 December. The attacks were carried out by the Micanor gang, part of the Viv Ansanm coalition, which targeted the elderly related to a belief by the leader of the Micanor gang that they had used witchcraft to kill his son.
- The residents of Wharf Jeremie were further accused of causing the mysterious death of four people, on top of the son of the gang leader. During the massacre, many victims were kidnapped, interrogated and executed, with their bodies subsequently burned or thrown into the sea.
- Since the massacre, Wharf Jeremie has been under an informal siege, with restrictions on movements and continued targeting of the elderly and voodoo practitioners.
- Over 30 suspected gang members were lynched in Petite-Rivière de l’Arbonite between 8 and 10 December. While some were active gang members, many were loosely related to gangs, including eight young girls who were described as girlfriends of gang members.
- A massacre took place in Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite on 10 and 11 December, involving the Gran Grif gang, killing around 70 people. Most victims were reportedly stabbed to avoid attracting police attention.
- Over 10,606 people fled the commune of Petite-Rivère de l’Arbonite following the attacks. 64% fled to the commune of Verrettes. 95% found refuge with relatives in host families, while 5% were housed in newly established sites.
- On 13 December, several neighbourhoods of Port-au-Prince and its surroundings were awakened by heavy weapons fire. The attacks, involving clashes between the police and the Viv Ansanm coalition, led to the destruction of the National School Horace Éthéard.
- The hospital Bernard Mevs, one of the few hospitals financed by the private sector that was also open to the public, was burned down by gang members on 16 December. This is another big blow for the medical sector, which is already struggling with a lack of capacity and resources.
- Kendy, alias “Jeff Mafia”, the second in command of gang leader Jimmy Chérizier (Barbecue) was shot and killed by police officers, together with several gang members, during exchanges of fire in the vicinity of Delmas.
- The “Nono” boat was hijacked in the open sea by heavily armed men on 13 December. The hijackers took the boat to Mariani, a territory under the control of the criminal coalition Viv Ansanm.
- Armed bandits attacked Poste-Marchand in Port-au-Prince, looting and setting houses on fire. At least one person was killed and several others were injured, forcing many to flee the area in search of safety.
- During the night of 10 to 11 December, attackers targeted the Delmas 19 neighbourhood, setting fire to about ten vehicles. Gunfire was also reported, injuring one person.
- A landslide in Grand Gilles blocked off National Road #3, leading to disturbances in the traffic towards the North-East department which has had economic consequences for the area, including on fuel prices.
- The death toll from recent floods in Grand’Anse department has risen to four, with three people missing and 16 injured. Approximately 60 people have been evacuated according to the departmental authorities.
- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has partially resumed operations in Haiti, reopening hospitals in Tabarre, Carrefour, Cité Soleil, and the “Pran Men’m” clinic. Patient transport and emergency services at the Turgeau centre remain suspended.
- The criminal hearing for the assassination of former President Moïse, scheduled for 16 December, has been postponed indefinitely. This decision was taken after one of the three judges withdrew from the case for “personal convenience” just before the session.
Situation on the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT)
- The three members of the CPT accused of corruption have refused to comply with summons from the investigating judge, risking arrest warrants; they are asserting their self-proclaimed status as Presidents of the Republic to avoid appearing in court.
Situation on the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission
- Nearly 20 Kenyan officers serving in the MSS mission have submitted letters of resignation from the mission due to delays in their salaries, which they had not received for three months, and poor conditions, according to Reuters.
- The MSS has denied these reports, stating that all officers received their salaries and monthly allowances and that all officers have remained committed to the mission.
- By the end of December, 600 additional personnel from Kenya, Guatemala and the Bahamas, will join the MSS mission, bringing the total to 1,000.
- The U.S. military has delivered equipment to strengthen the operational capabilities of both the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the International Mission.
International situation
- The European Union added three Haitian gang leaders to the sanction list on 16 December, namely Jonel Catel, who leads the Terre Noire gang, Gabriel Jean-Pierre, who heads the GPèp coalition, and Ferdens Tilus, the leader of the Kokorat San Ras gang.
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has extended the ban on U.S. commercial flights to Port-au-Prince until March 2025. The extension of the ban was announced on the same day as the reopening of the international airport in Port-au-Prince.
Links of interest
Haiti gang kills 184 people over witchcraft accusation, UN says
Le déroulement du Massacre de Wharf Jérémie
Une trentaine de personnes lynchées à Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite
Petite Rivière : The toll of reprisals explodes
Guatemalan reinforcements arrive; A school and houses burned; Petite Rivière: 10,000 people displaced
L’hôpital Bernard Mevs incendié par des bandits
Après l’incendie de l’hôpital Bernard Mevs, le gouvernement promet des mesures sécuritaires
Le numéro 2 du gang dirigé par Barbecue abattu
Piracy : A boat and 53 passengers hijacked
Poste-Marchand attacked
Delmas 19, target of an attack; Partial resumption of MSF activities
Le glissement de terrain à morne Grand Gilles impacte l’économie dans le Nord-Est
Grand’Anse : Flood death toll rises
Assassination of President Moïse: Criminal hearing postponed; Reinforcements announced for the Mission
Les trois membres du CPT inculpés ont boudé le mandat de comparution
Kenyan police in Haiti submit resignations over pay delays
Haiti’s multinational police mission denies reports of unpaid wages
L’Union européenne sanctionne trois chefs de gangs en Haïti pour violences et crimes graves
FAA Suspends U.S. Commercial Flights to Port-au-Prince Until March 2025
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