By Dodeley Orélus, Le Quotidien 509, June 26, 2026
The president of the Cité Soleil Community Leaders’ Collective (CONOCS), Pastor Jean Enoch Joseph, states that members of the Wharf Jérémie gang and those from the Belekou neighborhood continue to clash, fueling a climate of constant insecurity in the commune.
The community leader strongly criticizes the Haitian National Police (PNH), which he accuses of never having taken the necessary steps to restore peace in Cité Soleil. He also condemns acts of looting carried out by armed men in the La Plaine area, where several homes are reported to have been ransacked.
Pastor Jean Enoch Joseph urges victims of gang violence to file complaints against the relevant authorities, arguing that they must be held accountable for their failure to protect the population.
He also points out that the ongoing insecurity is disrupting fuel supplies, particularly the operations of tanker trucks at the Varreux terminal.
In the Artibonite department, the town of Dessalines also remains under significant strain. According to journalist Daniel Louis, speaking on Radio Kiskeya, several neighborhoods—including Martino, Charié, and La Chapelle—remain under the control of armed groups.
He notes that members of self-defense groups, supported by police officers from the UTAG unit, are attempting to prevent the gangs from expanding their control to other areas of the town.
René Charles, president of the Union of Visionary Planters for the Development of Artibonite (SPVDA), describes the situation in the Artibonite Valley as still deeply concerning.
He asserts that bandits are now hiding in the brush to attack passersby and commit sexual violence against women, particularly in the Morne Robert area, where insecurity has reportedly worsened.
For his part, KONTRAPEP leader Jean-Wiliam Jeanty blames the international community, particularly the United States, which he accuses of having facilitated Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé’s rise to power.
According to the former lawmaker, the head of government has taken no significant action to improve the population’s living conditions or curb the rise in violence affecting, in particular, Cité Soleil, La Plaine, and several communes in the Artibonite region.
Jean-Wiliam Jeanty also believes that the Gang Suppression Force (FRG), deployed since April 2026, has not yet achieved the expected results in the fight against armed groups.
The former lawmaker criticizes the continued use of suicide drones, while pointing out that no leader of the “Viv Ansanm” criminal group has been arrested to date, despite operations carried out by law enforcement.
Posted July 16, 2026