Aug. 23-24 Gang Assault in Kenscoff Kills at Least 47, Dozens Abducted

A large armed-gang assault in the hillside community of Kenscoff overlooking Port-au-Prince killed at least 47 people, injured 22 and left dozens abducted during the night of Aug. 23-24, according to U.N. figures cited by Amnesty International and relayed by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesman.

Local authorities reported a lower confirmed death toll, underscoring the difficulty of verifying casualties in an area hit by repeated violence. Port-au-Prince prosecutor Fritz Patterson Dorval said he personally counted 26 bodies in two morgues — 15 in one and 11 in another. Kenscoff Mayor Jean Massillon said a justice of the peace and the prosecutor had confirmed around 25 dead and about 15 missing. U.N. officials and other reporting have noted that access and verification problems have contributed to the discrepancy.

Those killed reportedly included people displaced by earlier violence who had sought refuge in a church. According to the U.N. account cited in international reporting, roughly 22 victims were reported executed inside the grounds of a church. Local officials and media attributed the attack to elements of the Viv Ansanm gang coalition, a powerful alliance operating in and around Port-au-Prince. Reports also said dozens of homes were burned and a church building was torched.

The attack prompted an immediate response from Haitian authorities and renewed calls for civilian protection and accountability. Haitian National Police Director-General Vladimir Paraison visited Kenscoff, ordered an investigation into possible “complicity or negligence” by security personnel, and dispatched additional special units. Guterres, through spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, condemned the assault, while Amnesty International on Wednesday urged Haitian and international authorities to protect civilians, prioritize the safety of those abducted and ensure a credible, impartial investigation.

“Sadly, we are once again witnessing another massacre in Haiti. This is a reminder of the devastating human cost of the absence of effective policies to protect the population,” said Astrid Valencia, Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for research for the Americas. Valencia also said: “The reinforcements and security operations announced by the government must prioritize the protection of the population and of those who have been abducted, and must be carried out in full compliance with human rights.” Dujarric said, “The relentless gang attacks on communities and the loss of lives underscore the alarming security conditions in Haiti.”

The assault stands out as one of the most serious recent attacks in the greater Port-au-Prince area because of the high reported death toll, the large number of abductions and reports that displaced people sheltering at a church were among the victims. Haiti has faced sustained gang violence for years, and the U.N. Integrated Office in Haiti said at least 1,408 people were killed and 656 injured nationwide from April through June 2026. Kenscoff itself has been repeatedly attacked since early 2025, part of a broader pattern of violence and displacement around the capital.