Tragedy continues to hit Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. In another episode demonstrating the power and control gangs exert over the country, dozens of people were killed in a clash between a gang and a group of armed men that reportedly broke away from it.
The violent confrontation took place on Dec. 9 and left at least 10 children dead, according to a local human rights group.
December has been particularly deadly in Haiti. According to human rights counts reported by The Associated Press, at least 49 people have been killed, burned, or mutilated since Dec. 8. Among the victims were 19 gang members, 10 children recruited by gangs, and an older man struck by a stray bullet.
With gangs controlling much of Haiti, human rights groups told The Associated Press that the death toll is expected to rise, as the area remains inaccessible to authorities.
Although the situation is still under investigation, the clash reportedly involved members of Viv Ansanm, a coalition of gangs that dominates much of Port-au-Prince, and members of Krache Dife, a faction that recently split from the coalition.
Viv Ansanm is led by Jimmy Chérizier, also known as "Barbecue," a former Haitian National Police officer who helped create the coalition to challenge the government. Cherizier has been linked to mass killings and sexual violence against civilians.
As reported by the Miami Herald, the fighting appears to have erupted over internal disputes within Viv Ansanm. Gunmen from Viv Ansanm clashed with members of Krache Dife, loyal to gang leader Kempès Sanon, turning Bel-Air into a battleground. The conflict reportedly stemmed from disagreements over kidnappings, which have surged in recent months, and resulted in Sanon being ousted.
Reports indicate that Dèdè, one of the highest-ranking Viv Ansanm members in Bel-Air, was killed and later beheaded. Sanon was reportedly shot during the clash and is now in hiding.
In a video released on Dec. 9, Chérizier confirmed that one of the generals within the coalition had ignored repeated warnings to stop kidnappings, prompting another group within Viv Ansanm to intervene.
Although Chérizier did not name the individual, sources told the Miami Herald that it was Sanon, who was recently ousted from the coalition.
As part of efforts to counter the violent gangs that control much of Haiti, hundreds of Kenyan police officers arrived in the country, marking the first deployment since the U.N. Security Council approved expanding the existing force to combat gangs dominating Port-au-Prince and large areas nationwide.
There are now nearly 1,000 foreign officers in Haiti, force spokesperson Jack Ombaka told Reuters. The new mission is authorized to deploy up to 5,500 personnel, though contributions from other countries have been slow. A pledging conference is expected in New York later this month.
Kenya has contributed the largest contingent so far, with Jamaica, Belize, Guatemala, the Bahamas, and El Salvador also sending personnel.
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