Pont-Sondé, Haiti — A devastating gang assault in the central Haitian town of Pont-Sondé last week has now left 115 people dead, marking one of the country’s most severe massacres in recent years. Local mayor Myriam Fièvre from the nearby city of Saint-Marc confirmed the staggering death toll, noting that the number could rise as authorities continue their search for bodies in hard-to-reach areas.
The attack, which targeted civilians indiscriminately, resulted in the loss of not just adult lives but also babies, young mothers, and the elderly. Local reports indicated that the assailants, identified as members of the Gran Grif gang, utilized canoes for a stealthy approach, catching many residents off guard.
This brutal act of violence triggered conversations around the shortcomings of local law enforcement, as the gang had reportedly issued threats through social media prior to the incident. Growing concerns led to the replacement of the regional police commissioner the day following the murders, reflecting efforts to manage rising gang influence in the Artibonite region where at least 20 gangs are believed to be active.
The aftermath saw a significant displacement of residents, with over 6,200 people fleeing Pont-Sondé. Many found temporary refuge in Saint-Marc and surrounding areas, though resources have been strained. According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 750 of these displaced individuals, lacking other options, have been sheltered in churches, schools, and public plazas.
Amid the ongoing crisis, Mayor Fièvre expressed concerns over the Gran Grif gang’s potential to expand its influence into nearby communities. The National Human Rights Defense Network of Haiti attributed the aggression to frustrations over a local self-defense group’s efforts to curb the gang’s activities, particularly their extortion through a recently established makeshift road toll.
Gran Grif, consisting of around 100 members, has been implicated in a litany of crimes including murder, rape, and kidnapping. The gang’s notoriety rose further after its leader and founder, a former legislator named Prophane Victor, reportedly began arming youths nearly a decade ago to secure his political objectives. Both Victor and current gang leader Luckson Elan face international sanctions from the United States and the United Nations, bringing global attention to the severity of their crimes.
With regional stability in jeopardy, the international community’s spotlight on Haiti’s gang violence could potentially galvanize further support and intervention. However, for the citizens of Pont-Sondé and the broader Artibonite region, the immediate need is for heightened security and recovery assistance as they confront the grim realities of gang dominance and its deadly consequences.