Haiti Kenscof massacre: 47 Killed, Dozens Abducted - Briefing | United Nations

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, today (28 Aug) told the Security Council that the Kenscof massacre, on the night of 23 to 24 August “is deeply shocking but is not an isolated tragedy.” Ruiz Massieu said this was “another appalling atrocity inflicted upon the Haitian population,” and described the “brutal attack” against the commune in the hills overlooking Port-au-Prince. He said the assault “claimed the lives of at least 47 persons, including three boys and two girls, left dozens abducted and many others injured, and caused further displaced and suffering,” and added that “homes were also set ablaze and local population seeking refuge from the violence were attacked, including in a church where gang members executed people in the courtyard and killed others as they attempted to escape.” Ruiz Massieu, who is also the Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), said this was “the latest in a series of attacks affecting the commune of Kenscof since early 2025 and demonstrates the continued capacity and determination of gangs to terrorize the population, expand their influence beyond the capital, and pose a direct challenge to state authority.” National security institutions, he said, “cannot be left to confront this threat without adequate support,” and noted that the international Gang Suppression Force (GSF) “represents clearly a critical component of the international response authorized by this Council.” The Special Representative called for a “swift and full deployment” of the GSF, and said, “sustained cooperation and coordination among national authorities and with the GSF will remain essential to address insecurity, protect communities and restore confidence among Haitians.” He said, “these security efforts must be accompanied by measures to restore state authority, basic services, and economic and social activity in affected communities,” and stressed that “this requires a coherent approach linking security operations with stabilization and recovery, community violence reduction, the reopening of schools and health facilities, and livelihood opportunities.” Ruiz Massieu also called for “credible pathways for disengagement from gangs, particularly for children and young people recruited and exploited by gangs.”


For more information or to watch video on YouTube, click here!