The United States has intensified its involvement in Haiti’s spiralling gang violence, offering a $1 million (about Ksh129 million) reward for the capture of one of the most notorious gang leaders in the country.
Wilson “Lanmò Sanjou” Joseph, leader of the Gran Grif gang, is now one of the FBI’s top targets, as his group continues to terrorise the Haitian population, leaving devastation in its wake. The latest attack claimed 70 lives, marking one of the deadliest assaults in recent months.
This FBI bounty, announced late Friday, signals an urgent shift in the US government’s support for Haiti and its partnership with a Kenya-led peacekeeping mission. The mission, known as the Multinational Security Support (MSS) operation, aims to restore law and order in a country where gangs have overrun cities and towns, paralysing communities.
The brutal killing spree in Pont-Sonde, a small town in western Haiti, occurred just hours before the reward was declared.
A picture of Haiti gang leader Lanmo Sanjou with members of his gang.
Photo
Courtesy
According to local reports, the Gran Grif gang attacked Pont-Sonde on Thursday, using automatic weapons to unleash terror on residents. At least 45 homes and 34 vehicles were set ablaze, as the gang rampaged through the town, killing 10 women, three infants, and dozens of others. Video footage shows terrified citizens fleeing on motorbikes and on foot, desperate to escape the violence.
The United Nations confirmed that 16 people were also critically injured in the attack, which left many homeless and in dire need of assistance. Hunger and mass displacement are now pressing concerns, as the chaos continues to push the country into deeper turmoil.
Haiti’s Prime Minister, Garry Conille, has vowed to take a hardline stance against the armed gangs that have terrorised the country for years. “We will continue to relentlessly pursue those who believe they can act with impunity,” Conille said, as he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to restoring security. The UN has echoed these sentiments, calling for a “robust use of force” against the gangs, who have crippled Haiti’s infrastructure and services.
The Gran Grif gang, with approximately 100 members, has become infamous for its violence. In January 2023, it attacked a police station near Pont-Sonde, killing six officers. The gang is also blamed for the forced closure of a hospital that served over 700,000 people. Both Joseph and the gang’s founder face US sanctions, as international pressure mounts to neutralise the group’s influence.
The US Embassy in Haiti expressed strong condemnation of the gang violence, stating that the United States would continue to support Haiti’s security forces and the MSS mission. The statement, released on Friday evening, pledged unwavering support in helping the Haitian National Police fight back against the gangs that have destabilised the country.
Kenya, leading the MSS mission, has committed 1,000 police officers to help restore law and order in Haiti. The deployment, which involves 2,500 officers from various countries, was approved for a one-year period, with a review expected in nine months. The mission, which began in June, has been met with cautious optimism, as Haitian authorities continue to grapple with the scale of the violence.
As the situation worsens, there are growing concerns about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Haiti. Many have called for immediate intervention, not just through policing but with aid to address the displacement and hunger now ravaging the population. Yet, the gangs remain defiant, continuing their bloody assault on the Haitian people.
President William Ruto interacting with Kenya Police officers in Haiti, September 2024.
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PSC
