Full Breakdown
Violent Gang Assault Shakes Kenscoff Farming Community
8/25/2026, 1:07:45 AM
Attack Overview
Late on Sunday, armed men entered the hilltop farming town of Kenscoff, set fire to homes and a church, and opened fire on residents. Mayor Jean Massillon told the Associated Press that access difficulties make a precise death toll impossible, but he later said at least 30 people were killed. Farmer Mathurin Pierre, 41, said he lost 14 loved ones and that an unknown number remain missing. Survivors described bodies strewn on the streets and wailing that continued into early Monday.
Background & Context
The assault is attributed to Viv Ansanm, a gang coalition that the United States designated a foreign terrorist organization last year. Gangs now control an estimated 70 % of Port-au-Prince, and Viv Ansanm has repeatedly targeted nearby Kenscoff. The attack follows a wave of violence that has displaced a record 1.5 million Haitians and comes less than a week after the U.S. government deported more than 160 people to Haiti—some of whom the U.S. Department of Homeland Security says were gang members with records for assault and drug trafficking. Haiti is slated to hold general elections on Dec. 13, the first in over a decade, but experts warn the security situation makes voting perilous.
Official Statements & Responses
Mayor Massillon blamed Viv Ansanm, saying “they sowed chaos.” A spokesperson for the U.N.–backed gang-suppression force did not respond to requests for comment. Haiti’s government issued a condemnation, stating “reinforcements are being deployed” and that “Kenscoff will not be abandoned.” Security forces have been ordered to pursue those responsible, and officials urged the population to remain confident.
Data & Statistics
U.N. statistics record more than 3,100 people killed and 1,189 injured across Haiti from January to June, alongside the 1.5 million displaced. The recent U.S. deportations included several individuals with criminal gang histories, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Community Voices
“If only we had a good police force that would have placed an armoured truck here, what happened here would been prevented,” said Verti Enold-Saint, a local resident mourning his brother-in-law. Other residents recounted frantic searches for missing family members and described the terror of hearing gunfire before dawn. These testimonies underscore the acute fear and trauma gripping Kenscoff in the wake of the assault.
