A massacre in the slum of Cité Soleil on the outskirts of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, has shaken the entire country. Over one hundred followers of the voodoo religion were brutally killed with machetes and knives by a gang led by Monel “Mikano” Felix. The carnage was justified by accusations of “witchcraft” directed at elderly members of the community who were blamed for the illness of the gang leader’s son.
According to reports from human rights organizations such as the National Human Rights Defense Network and the Committee for Peace and Development, the massacre was triggered by Felix’s belief that his son, who passed away last Saturday, had been cursed. A voodoo priest had identified local elders as responsible, convincing the gang leader to exact brutal revenge. The victims, mostly over the age of 60, were killed over two days: 60 on the first day and another 50 the following day.
Cité Soleil, one of the poorest and most dangerous areas in Haiti, has been under strict gang control for years. This densely populated slum not only witnesses daily violence but is also isolated from the rest of the country due to restrictions imposed by criminals, who even limit the use of cell phones. The United Nations estimates that the group led by Felix has around 300 members and also operates in other areas such as Fort Dimanche and La Saline, locations already marked by past atrocities.
This massacre is not an isolated incident. In recent months, gangs have intensified attacks and spread chaos across entire neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince. Haitian authorities, lacking adequate resources, are unable to contain the wave of violence, which has forced thousands to flee. In just the past two weeks, over 40,000 displaced people have left the capital, exacerbating an already severe humanitarian crisis.
Even the international mission led by Kenya and supported by the United Nations, which arrived in June, has so far failed to stem the problem, partly due to insufficient deployment of forces: of the 2,500 agents initially promised, only 400 have arrived.
Voodoo, at the center of this disturbing case, is a religion with deep historical roots, officially recognized in the Caribbean nation. Originating from the African continent, it spread to the Americas through the transatlantic slave trade. Its rituals are practiced by millions of people who believe in spirits that according to them, inhabit all living beings. Prejudice and ignorance continue to target its followers, making them easy victims of baseless accusations, as in this instance.
The Cité Soleil massacre highlights the grim combination of political crisis, extreme poverty, and violence gripping Haiti. The lack of an effective response from security forces and the international community’s failure to intervene decisively leave the population increasingly vulnerable to indiscriminate brutality.
