Photo: open source
On 3 October 2023, in the village of Pont Sonde, in the Artibonite agricultural region of western Haiti, the armed gang Grand Griff staged one of the bloodiest attacks in the country’s history. According to Reuters, the attack killed at least 70 people, including women and children. The gang set fire to dozens of homes and vehicles, leaving thousands of people homeless.
The gang’s leader, Lacson Elan, said the violence was in retaliation for civilians remaining passive while police and self-defence groups killed his soldiers. According to the UN, more than 6,270 people were forced to flee their homes, seeking refuge in neighbouring towns or in makeshift camps.
Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille condemned the attack, calling it “a crime against defenceless women, men and children”, and promised to increase security in the region. In response to the escalating violence, the national police have already replaced the director of the Artibonite department.
This attack is yet another indication of the escalating conflict in Haiti, where armed gangs control large areas, including the capital Port-au-Prince. The situation in the country is becoming increasingly critical, with hunger and homelessness leaving hundreds of thousands of people in desperate straits.
The international community, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, is calling for an urgent deployment of a security mission to Haiti as promised support is delayed and neighbouring countries continue to deport migrants. In 2022, more than 3,000 murders and more than 1,500 kidnappings were recorded in the country. The situation requires urgent action to stop the violence and restore peace in Haiti.
