Story perspectives

Kidnappers seize Haiti defence director, family, demand ransom

6/14/2026

Summary

Story summary

Kidnappers seized James Boyard, the defence ministry’s cabinet director, his wife and their six-year-old daughter in Port-au-Prince.
The abductors demanded a ransom, a tactic analyst Diego Da Rin of the International Crisis Group says gangs use to target officials and dual-nationality individuals.
The United Nations said gang-related violence this year caused over 2,300 deaths, more than 1,100 injuries, 99 kidnappings and displaced nearly 1.5 million people.

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Story summary

Kidnappers seized James Boyard, the defence ministry’s cabinet director, his wife and their six-year-old daughter in Port-au-Prince.
The abductors demanded a ransom, a tactic analyst Diego Da Rin of the International Crisis Group says gangs use to target officials and dual-nationality individuals.
The United Nations said gang-related violence this year caused over 2,300 deaths, more than 1,100 injuries, 99 kidnappings and displaced nearly 1.5 million people.