The National Human Rights Defense Network has released a report detailing a devastating massacre in the Haitian farming community of Kenscoff. The findings allege that gang violence killed at least 164 people and kidnapped over 70 others following significant security withdrawals.
The 60 percent reduction in local security forces
The Kenscoff massacre follows a period of intentional vulnerability created by the withdrawal of state protection. According to the National Human Rights Defense Network, security personnel in the farming community near Port-au-Prince were reduced by 60 percent following a previous attack in January 2025. This withdrawal included the recall of soldiers and special police units from strategic locations for reasons the report claims remain unknown.
This pattern of retreat mirrors broader instabilities seen in Haiti, where security gains are often temporary and fragile. While data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data showed a 66 percent reduction in violence in Kenscoff between January and August, this progress was erased by the sudden absence of law enforcement. The report suggests that the state effectively abandoned the community just as gang activity surged in late August.
Surveillance drones and the ignored requests for armored trucks
Tactical preparations by gangs were reportedly visible to officials long before the violence erupted. The National Human Rights Defense Network reported that armed groups used surveillance drones to monitor law enforcement movements and deployed scouts to infiltrate the area. Despite these signs, the former head of the Kenscoff police station saw requests for two additional armored trucks ignored by superiors.
The lack of resources left the community exposed to highly organized assaults.. In one instance, an armored vehicle was moved away from the area due to a shortage of personnel, creating a tactical opening for "armed terrorist bandits." The report also notes that government officials observed drones flying over the city and found roads blocked by tree trunks, yet no decisive action was taken to prevent the ensuing slaughter.
A massacre of 164 victims, including children and clergy
The human cost of the Kenscoff assault was catastrophic, characterized by extreme brutality against non-combatants. The report states that at least 164 people were killed, including 36 women and seven children, one of whom was only four years old. The victims also included two pastors and a school principal who was beheaded during the chaos.
The violence extended to the most vulnerable members of the community ,with nearly two dozen victims aged between 65 and 90. The National Human Rights Defense Network documented instances of horrific cruelty, such as a man at the Kenscoff police station having his eyes gouged out. The report highlights how gangs used civilians as tools , including a 21-year-old man who was shot in the head after being forced to carry stones to block a road.
The mystery of the "barely perceptible" UN-backed force
Significant questions remain regarding the effectiveness and presence of international intervention in Haiti. The report specifically questions why a new United Nations-backed gang suppression force remains "barely perceptible" on the ground. While the force previously claimed it would relieve Haitian police to allow for stronger protection in Kenscoff, its actual contribution to security operations remains difficult to identify.
The Kenscoff mayor has continued to issue warnings about the ongoing threat, noting that drones continue to fly over the community and disturbing messages are being circulated online. It remains unclear why the promised security reinforcements have not materialized to address these persistent signals of an imminent threat.
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