A local gang leader, blaming Voodoo practitioners for his son’s death, is alleged to have orchestrated the killings.
United Nations estimates indicate that at least 184 people, mostly elderly, were murdered in Port-au-Prince over the weekend.
Gang leader Monel Felix, also known as Mikano, who controls the Wharf Jeremie port area, is believed to be behind the massacre, primarily targeting the impoverished Cite Soleil district.
“At least 184 people were killed in violence orchestrated by a powerful gang leader in Port-au-Prince this past weekend,” stated UN human rights chief Volker Turk.
The violence stemmed from a dispute between Mikano and Voodoo practitioners following the death of his son. Though the details of their interaction remain unclear, Mikano’s anger resulted in the mass killings.
“He brutally punished elderly people and Voodoo practitioners whom he believed cursed his son,” explained the Committee for Peace and Development in a statement.
“Gang members identified victims in their homes and brought them to the leader for execution,” the Committee added.
Reports suggest victims were tortured and killed, their bodies burned in the streets. The UN strongly condemned the massacre, noting that gang violence in Haiti has claimed approximately 5,000 lives this year.
Haiti’s long history of political instability and violence worsened significantly after the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.
Criminal gangs effectively controlled Haiti until a transitional council was formed earlier this year to select a new president, prime minister, and cabinet, aiming to restore order.