Haiti: At Least 12 Dead as Gang Violence Erupts in Upscale Neighborhoods

Haiti: At Least 12 Dead as Gang Violence Continues in Port-au-Prince — *(Photo: Odelyn Joseph/AP)*

Haitian gangs attacked two upscale neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince, leaving at least 12 dead.

According to the Associated Press, gunmen looted homes in the mountainous communities of Laboule and Thomassin before dawn, forcing residents to flee as some called radio stations pleading for police protection. The dead were strewn on the streets of Pétionville, located just below Laboule and Thomassin.

As morning broke, crowds began to gather around the victims. One woman had to be assisted by those near her as she collapsed in grief after learning that a relative of hers was among the dead.

"We woke up this morning to find bodies in the street in our community of Pétionville," local official Douce Titi said. "Ours is not that kind of community. We will start working to remove those bodies before the children start walking by to go to school and the vendors start to arrive."

Prior to the attack, the mentioned neighborhoods remained largely peaceful despite a surge in violent attacks across the Haitian capital that began in late February and nominally led by gang leader Jimmy "Barbeque" Chérizier, who was - according to UNICEF chief Catherine Russell - transforming Haiti into "a scene out of Mad Max."

Escalating Gang Violence

The most recent attack raised concerns that gang violence would not cease despite Ariel Henry announcing his resignation last week once a transitional presidential council is created.

Gangs have long opposed Henry, saying that he was never elected by the people and was blamed for the country's deepening poverty, but critics of gangs accuse them of trying to seize power for themselves or unidentified Haitian politicians.

As gang violence continues unabated, Caribbean leaders have been helping create a transitional council. It was originally supposed to have seven members with voting powers.

However, one political party in Haiti rejected their seats, and another was still squabbling over who should be nominated.

Meanwhile, the deployment of a UN-backed Kenyan police force to fight gangs in Haiti has been delayed, saying that the country would wait until the transitional council has been established.