Haiti Report Details Security Failures Ahead of Kenscoff Massacre
A new human rights report details how significant security reductions and ignored warnings preceded the deadly attacks on the Haitian farming community of Kenscoff.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A detailed new report released by the National Human Rights Defense Network in Haiti has outlined specific institutional failures that preceded one of the country’s most severe recent massacres. The document, which relies on interviews with over 100 victims, relatives, and security officials, provides a comprehensive account of the attacks on the farming community of Kenscoff near Port-au-Prince. According to the group, the findings suggest that the scale of the violence could have been significantly reduced had security measures been maintained following previous incidents.
The report indicates that at least 164 people were killed during the latest wave of violence, with more than 70 individuals kidnapped and dozens remaining missing. It asserts that a timely strengthening of security could have prevented or limited these deaths. The human rights organization expressed concern over the lack of response from authorities, noting that available information prior to the attack indicated a serious and imminent threat to the local population. A spokesperson for Haiti’s National Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the specific allegations of negligence.
Security reductions preceded the violence
Kenscoff had already suffered a major attack in January 2025, which left at least 139 people dead or missing. The new report highlights that serious institutional failures were identified after that initial incident, yet security was never fully restored. It states that soldiers and special police units assigned to the area were later recalled for reasons that remain unknown. Overall, the report found that security presence in the region was reduced by 60 percent in the months leading up to the latest massacre.
Prior to the August attacks, the group noted that an armored vehicle was removed from the area due to a lack of personnel, which they argue created a new opening for armed groups. Additionally, requests from the former head of the Kenscoff police station for two additional armored trucks were ignored. The report suggests that these logistical and strategic decisions weakened the town’s defenses just as tensions with local armed groups were escalating.
Warnings of imminent danger were noted
In the days leading up to the massacre, the human rights group reported that armed individuals used surveillance drones to track the movements and positions of law enforcement. Scouts were deployed to the area to monitor roads and identify individuals who might pose a threat. Government officials told the investigators that they did not receive specific plans about the attack but did notice unusual drone activity flying over the city hours before the violence began.
Another significant warning sign involved the physical blockage of roads. The report details that tree trunks were used to block access routes hours before the massacre started. One of the first victims, a 21-year-old man, was reportedly ordered to carry stones to block a road before he was shot. These actions suggest a coordinated effort to isolate the community and control movement prior to the main assault.
Community impact and future accountability
The victims included a wide range of demographics, with nearly two dozen individuals aged between 65 and 90, 36 women, and seven children killed. Among the dead were farmers, religious leaders, and a school principal. The report describes harrowing accounts of violence, including residents sheltering in schools and churches who were attacked. The human rights group has called on the Haitian government to provide financial, medical, and psychological aid to survivors and their families, while also demanding accountability for the security lapses detailed in the investigation.
As Haiti continues to struggle with gang violence, the findings in this report raise critical questions about the effectiveness of current security strategies. The forward question remains whether the Haitian state will implement the recommended security enhancements and investigate the specific decisions that led to the reduction of police presence in vulnerable areas. The coming weeks will likely see increased pressure on authorities to address these institutional failures before further violence occurs.
