Violence in Haiti’s capital, targeting Vodou practitioners, leaves over 200 dead

Violence erupted in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, over the weekend, leaving at least 200 people dead, many of whom were reportedly killed in a massacre targeting Vodou practitioners. The killings, which occurred on Friday and Saturday, were linked to a powerful gang leader who believed that followers of the religion had cursed his son, causing the child’s illness.

The civil organization Committee for Peace and Development (CPD) reported that more than 110 people were executed by the gang, with the victims mostly elderly men and women. The gang’s leader, according to the CPD, decided to punish these individuals for allegedly sending a “bad spell” on his son. The gang’s soldiers identified victims in their homes, dragged them to the leader’s stronghold, and carried out the brutal killings.

A statement from the CPD described the atrocities: “The bodies were mutilated and burned in the streets.” The victims were primarily over 60 years old, though young people who attempted to intervene or rescue others were also killed in the violence. The CPD also reported that many of the victims were members of the Vodou community, a religion with deep roots in Haiti’s culture and history.

The UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, confirmed the death toll of at least 184 people over the weekend, which pushes the number of killings in Haiti this year to a staggering 5,000. The violence occurred in the western coastal neighborhood of Cité Soleil, an area heavily controlled by criminal gangs.

Haiti has been plagued by instability for decades, but the situation has worsened in recent months. In February, armed groups launched coordinated attacks in Port-au-Prince to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Gangs now control about 80% of the capital, and despite efforts by the international community, including a Kenyan-led police support mission, violence continues to spiral out of control.

The CPD and the UN have raised alarm over the humanitarian impact of the ongoing violence. Over 700,000 people are internally displaced in Haiti, with children accounting for about half of this population, according to the UN’s International Organization for Migration.

Vodou, which was brought to Haiti by enslaved Africans, is a cornerstone of the nation’s cultural identity. Despite being officially recognized as a religion in 2003, it has long faced persecution, particularly by other religious groups. The recent massacre highlights the deepening ethnic and religious tensions in a country already struggling with gang violence and political instability.