Haiti Friday said that the massacre that occurred in Kenscoff, a mountainous commune south-east of Port-au-Prince last weekend, underscored the need for the international community to put in place measures to enforce an arms embargo on the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
In addition, Haiti said that the attack last Sunday also calls for the full and rapid deployment of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) a UN-backed multinational security mission to be deployed in Haiti to dismantle violent gangs and protect civilians.
GSF personnel from various contributing countries began operations on June 1 this year with the deployment of 5,500 expected by October 2026.
The assault claimed the lives of at least 47 persons, including three boys and two girls. It also left dozens abducted and many others injured, and caused further displacement and suffering. Homes were also set ablaze, and local population seeking refuge from the violence was attacked, including at a church, where gang members executed people and killed others as they attempted to escape.
As the international community condemned the massacre at an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council called requested by Panama, the United States and Colombia, Haiti’s ambassador Eric Pierre said his country condemns ‘in the strongest possible terms these acts of extreme barbarism’ that followed the deadly gang attack on August 23-24.
‘We express our deep solidarity with the victims, their families and the communities affected by this violence and we remain mobilised to provide urgent responses commensurate with the security challenges,’ he said, adding that ‘these attacks constitute a new demonstration of the capacity for violence and terror of armed criminal gangs despite the considerable efforts made by the Haitian National Police and the armed forces of Haiti which remain fully mobilised on the ground with the support from the Gang Suppression Force.
‘The heinous criminal attack in Kenscoff underscores the urgent need for the international community to accelerate the deployment of the GSF to the planned strength of 5,500 personnel as soon as possible and above all to provide it with the full means necessary to carry out its missions alongside the national security forces.’
Pierre said that all security forces in Haiti have been placed on high alert in order to gradually regain control of the areas occupied by the gangs, adding that the ‘instructions are clear, protect, secure and restore the authority of the state’.
Pierre noted that in recent years, the UN Security Council has adopted a number of important decisions on Haiti in order to held the government in its efforts to restore security and the authority of the state.
He said that the government led by the Prime Minister, Alex Didier Fils-Aimé, is continuing with the same momentum, in particular through the implementation of the P4000 project, which aims to substantially increase the number of personnel and the operational capacities of the Haitian National Police as well as continuing to strengthen the armed forces.
‘Today, we need greater synergy at the international level to support the government in restoring security, which is an essential condition in order to organise the upcoming elections in the country.’
The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) recently announced that the first round of long-awaited presidential and legislative elections, alongside a constitutional referendum, for December 13, this year, marking the first time Haitians will be casting ballots since 2016 when President Jovenel Moise was elected. Moise was later assassinated on July 7,2021.
The preliminary results are expected to be published December 19, with final results for the first round scheduled for January 9, 2027. A second round of presidential and legislative elections, along with local elections, is scheduled for February 21, 2027 with final results for the second round of presidential and legislative elections scheduled for March 7, with final local election results expected March 12.
The electoral campaign for the first round is scheduled to begin October 5 and run through December 12. The campaign for the second round is scheduled for January 10 through February 20, 2027.
The CEP said that 17 out of the 18 political groups, representing 228 political parties have received approval to contest the polls.
Pierre told the UN Security Council that as the country gears up for the polls, the actions of the international community must be directed towards accelerating the deployment of the GSF.
‘…in this context, we thank Chad, Mongolia and Cote d’Ivoire, which have already signed agreements with Haiti, to join the GSF, and steps are underway in this direction with Jamaica, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and Guatemala.
‘We call on the members of the international community to strengthen their contribution to upholding and implementing of the arms embargo imposed by the Security Council Sanctions Committee Resolution 2653 on Haiti in order to stem the flow of arms and ammunitions which fuel the violence of criminal gangs.’
Pierre told the UN Security Council that the urgency of the situation calls for a ‘rapid, coordinated and resolute response’ adding that ‘Haiti continues to count on the support of its partners in the international community to accompany it in its efforts to restore lasting security, to fully restore the authority of the state and to create the conditions necessary for the holding of elections’.
Earlier, the Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) Carlos Ruiz Massieu, said that last weekend’s massacre ‘is deeply shocking, but it is not an isolated tragedy.
‘It is the latest in a series of attacks affecting the commune of Kenscoff since early 2025. It demonstrates the continued capacity and determination of gangs to terrorise the population, expand their influence beyond the capital and pose a direct challenge to state authority and the rule of law’.
Massieu said Haitians continue to pay a devastating and intolerable human cost, with BINUH documenting 1,408 people killed and 656 injured between April and June 2026 alone.
‘The attack in Kenscoff has generated a new wave of public indignation across all sectors of Haiti’s society, as well as international partners, with renewed calls to protect populations, strengthen security institutions and restore public order. These reactions reflect a growing recognition that security is the foundation for progress in all other areas.’
The senior UN official in Haiti said that national security institutions cannot be left to confront this threat without adequate support and that the GSF ‘represents a critical component of the international response authorised by this Council.
‘Its swift and full deployment must now be accelerated. Sustained cooperation and coordination among national authorities and with the Gang Suppression Force will remain essential to address insecurity, protect communities and restore confidence among Haitian citizens.
‘For far too long, Haitians have lived in fear of being killed, kidnapped or subjected to sexual violence,’ he said noting that this latest attack occurs at a critical moment in Haiti’s political transition.
‘Without improved security conditions, efforts to strengthen governance, accelerate the political process and advance electoral preparations will remain severely constrained and vulnerable to setbacks.’
He said equally important is breaking the cycle of impunity and that the perpetrators of the attack on Kenscoff, as well as those who finance, arm and enable gang violence must be held accountable.
‘The effective activation and operationalization of the specialized judicial units mandated to investigate mass crimes, sexual violence, financial crimes -including the prompt opening of investigations into the attack on Kenscoff – will be paramount to strengthen the rule of law and restore public confidence in State institutions.’
In his address to the UN Security Council, the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Indrika Ratwatte, said more than half of Haiti’s population, an estimated 6.4 million people, need humanitarian assistance and that the ‘latest attack on Kenscoff is yet another grim reminder of the suffering Haitians face every day.
‘And violence is not the only threat. Haiti remains highly vulnerable to recurring climate shocks and other natural hazards. Hurricane Melissa brought death and destruction to Haiti last year, and now the country is facing another hurricane season. Recent seismic activity in the region is a stark reminder of Haiti’s vulnerability to earthquakes,’ he said.
He said that as Haitians confront the reality of the daily situation, deportations to Haiti continue at scale.
He said that in the first eight months of 2026, almost 200,000 people were forcibly returned, a 10 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.
‘Many arrive without resources, documentation or support networks, and some have especially urgent protection needs, including survivors of sexual violence, pregnant and lactating women, people with disabilities, and unaccompanied and separated children.
‘Our humanitarian partners have recorded over 5,500 incidents of gender-based violence, or about 30 cases per day, in the first six months of the year alone. Women and girls constitute the vast majority of survivors. Approximately 70 per cent of reported incidents of gender-based violence involved rape, and nearly three quarters of reported rape cases involved collective rape. Women and girls are being subjected to horrific sexual violence with utter impunity. This must stop,’Ratwatte said.
He asked the international community to consider three issues.
‘First, stop the violence. No child should fall asleep to gunfire. Hospitals, schools and aid workers must never be targets. Second, fund the response. Humanitarian organizations remain committed and ready to deliver life-saving assistance, but surging needs mean we need continued predictable and flexible funding…, and third, tackle the causes of this crisis.
‘Lasting progress requires broader efforts including in the realms of security, political stability, and sustained investment in essential services. The people of Haiti deserve more than mere survival. They deserve safety, opportunity, and hope for a better future,’ Ratwatte told the UN Security Council.