Report Details Security Lapses in Haiti Massacre

The National Human Rights Defense Network has released a detailed account of the recent killings in Kenscoff, a farming community near Port-au-Prince. According to the report, at least 164 people were killed, with over 70 others kidnapped and dozens remaining missing. The organization attributes the scale of the tragedy to significant gaps in security infrastructure and a failure by authorities to act on prior warnings of an imminent threat.

The findings are based on interviews with judges, police officials, and more than 100 victims and their relatives. The report asserts that a timely strengthening of security measures could have prevented or significantly limited the loss of life. This assessment highlights a recurring pattern of institutional failure in the region, where previous warnings were not translated into effective protective actions.

Institutional failures in security

According to the group, Kenscoff remained vulnerable following a previous attack in January 2025 that left 139 people dead or missing. The report states that soldiers and special police units assigned to strategic locations after that incident were recalled for reasons that remain unknown. Consequently, the number of security personnel in the area was reduced by 60%, leaving the town exposed to further incursions by armed groups.

Requests from the former head of the local police station for additional armored vehicles were ignored prior to the latest attack. The report notes that an armored vehicle was moved out of the area due to a lack of personnel, creating a new opening for armed groups. This withdrawal of resources occurred just weeks before the violence escalated, undermining the defensive posture of the community.

Warning signs of the attack

Days before the massacre, the report indicates that armed groups 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 acknowledged hearing about these drones hours before the attack began but did not act on the intelligence.

Another clear warning sign was the use of tree trunks to block several roads shortly before the violence started. One of the first victims was a 21-year-old man who was ordered to carry stones to block a road before he was shot. The report describes how armed men staged several attacks before entering Kenscoff to lure away police and weaken their defenses, allowing the main assault to proceed with less resistance.

Humanitarian impact and response

The victims of the attack included a wide range of community members, from farmers to religious leaders and educators. The report lists the deaths of nearly two dozen individuals aged 65 to 90, 36 women, and seven children, including a four-year-old. Specific accounts describe the brutal nature of the killings, with victims found in schools and churches, highlighting the breakdown of social order in the area.

The human rights group has called on the Haitian government to provide financial, medical, and psychological aid to survivors and their families. A spokesperson for the National Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the findings. The report serves as a critical document for understanding the sequence of events and the administrative decisions that contributed to the tragedy.