Deadly Attack in Laboderie Leaves 42 Dead as Gang Violence Escalates
At least 42 people were killed this week in Laboderie, north of Port-au-Prince, in one of the most severe attacks of the year as the armed coalition Viv Ansanm asserts control amid a backdrop of state inaction, reports 24brussels.
Local authority Baptiste Joseph Louis confirmed on Friday that the killings occurred on September 12 in the Arcahaie municipality, approximately 40 kilometers from the capital. The Viv Ansanm gang executed the assault following a previous pushback by police and local self-defense brigades. Upon returning to Laboderie, the assailants left behind dozens of bodies, with some found abandoned in the streets, partially devoured by dogs, while terrified survivors fled the area.
The human rights group Collectif Défenseurs Plus condemned what it characterized as a “new wave of deadly violence,” demanding accountability from the state. This incident follows a massacre on September 11, where about 40 individuals were executed in Cabaret as retribution for the death of gang leader “Vladimir” during skirmishes with security forces on September 7.
According to the NGO, the attackers in Laboderie also torched homes and property. ???These executions, committed indiscriminately, reflect a barbaric logic of revenge against a defenseless population and tolerated by state authorities,” stated the organization.
Violence has intensified across various regions. In Lower Artibonite, gangs escalate attacks to gain control over roads and communication routes. In the Central Department, the number of internally displaced persons has more than doubled this year due to violence in Mirebalais and Saut d’Eau. Residents of the capital region are living in constant fear, facing restricted access to essential services such as healthcare, food, education, and transport in areas dominated by armed groups.
“The tragedy of Laboderie illustrates a violence fueled by impunity and the absence of the State. Haiti needs a national and international response that is urgent and coordinated to curb the violence of armed groups,” the organization emphasized in a statement.
On Thursday, Organization of American States Secretary-General Albert Ramdin stressed the unity of the organization’s 32 member states in supporting a renewed international security mission for Haiti, which is set to replace the current mandate expiring in October. “This demonstrates hemispheric solidarity and unity, and for me, it is especially important because I have always hoped this organization could be valuable in working together,” Ramdin remarked.
As violence escalates in Haiti, rights groups caution that without immediate national and international intervention, communities remain vulnerable to uncontested armed violence and worsening insecurity.