Port-au-Prince: A gang leader in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, has been accused of orchestrating a massacre targeting older adults and Vodoo practitioners in the Cité Soleil neighborhood. Reports estimate that almost 200 people were killed, sparking outrage and demands for justice.  

Haiti’s government confirmed the killings in a statement on Monday, calling it “unspeakable carnage” and promising to hold those responsible accountable. The United Nations also condemned the violence, citing at least 184 deaths, including 127 elderly men and women, between December 6-8 in the Wharf Jérémie area of Cité Soleil.  

Volker Türk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, expressed grave concern over the escalating violence in the gang-controlled region. Local rights groups such as the Cooperative for Peace and Development (CPD) and the National Human Rights Defense Network also estimated the death toll exceeded 100, with one group reporting that around 20 older people were among the victims.  

"Reliable sources within the community report that more than  100 people were massacred, their bodies mutilated and burned in the street," CPD said.

According to reports, a resident confirmed the attacks and said that his 76-year-old father was among the victims.

"The bandits set fire to his body. The family cannot even organize a burial for him since we were unable to recover the body," he said on condition of anonymity so as not to compromise the safety of other relatives.

Voodoo was brought to Haiti by African slaves and is a mainstay of the country's culture. It was banned during French colonial rule and only recognized as an official religion by the Haitian government in 2003.

While it incorporates elements of other religious beliefs, including Catholicism, voodoo has been historically attacked by other religions.

Gang leader blames community for son’s death

The accused gang leader, Micanor Altès, also known as Monel Felix or Wa Mikanò, controls key areas in Port-au-Prince, including Wharf Jérémie, La Saline, and Fort Dimanche. According to rights groups, Micanor believed his son’s severe illness was caused by witchcraft and accused older community members and Vodoo practitioners of casting a spell.  

Reports say Micanor ordered gunmen to round up well-known community leaders, including Vodoo priests, and take them to his stronghold, where they were executed. The victims also included motorcycle drivers who tried to save others.

"He decided to cruelly punish all elderly people and voodoo practitioners who, in his imagination, would be capable of sending a bad spell on his son," a statement from the Haiti-based group said.

Residents say the gang has imposed a ban on people leaving the area to identify more elderly and Vodoo practitioners for further attacks.  

Gang violence fuels Haiti’s crisis 

This massacre is one of many instances of escalating gang violence in Haiti, where criminal groups now control significant portions of the country. Two months earlier, over 70 people were killed in Pont-Sondé as gangs competed for territory.  

Haiti’s National Police and a UN-backed mission led by Kenyan police have struggled to address the crisis. Human Rights Watch called the situation “catastrophic,” with residents living in constant fear of violence, abduction, or forced recruitment by gangs.  

The Cooperative for Peace and Development highlighted that Micanor has previously targeted Vodoo practitioners, killing dozens over the years. Vodoo, a religion blending Catholicism and animist beliefs, has deep cultural roots in Haiti, including its role in the country’s revolution that led to independence in 1804.  

With more than 4,500 people killed in Haiti this year, international organisations are urging stronger action to address the violence and protect vulnerable communities.

(Agency inputs)