Almost 200 Killed in Haitian Capital Due to Voodoo Conflict
Extreme violence erupted following accusations from a local crime lord, who held Voodoo practitioners responsible for the death of his son. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The recent killings in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, resulted in at least 184 fatalities, predominantly among elderly men and women, as estimated by the UN.
The violence is said to have been orchestrated by Monel Felix, also known as Mikano, a local gang leader commanding the Wharf Jeremie port area. The majority of the killings occurred in Cite Soleil, a densely populated and impoverished district.
“This past weekend, at least 184 people were killed in violence orchestrated by the leader of a powerful gang in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince,” stated UN human rights chief Volker Turk.
The massacre reportedly stemmed from a conflict between Mikano and local Voodoo practitioners, a widely followed syncretic religion in Haiti associated with witchcraft and black magic. Following the illness and death of his son, Mikano allegedly confronted a Voodoo priest. While details of their exchange remain unclear, Mikano's fury led him to order the violent retribution.
“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,” declared the Committee for Peace and Development, a local civil group.
According to the statement, “The gang’s soldiers were responsible for identifying victims in their homes to take them to the chief’s stronghold to be executed.”
Local media reports indicate that victims endured torture and execution, with their mutilated remains reportedly burned in the streets of the capital. The UN condemned the massacre, emphasizing that this latest outbreak of violence has raised the toll of gang-related deaths in Haiti to 5,000 for the year.
The Caribbean nation has faced decades of political upheaval and violence, a situation that escalated significantly in 2021 following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise.
As a result, Haiti fell largely under the control of various criminal gangs until a transitional council was formed earlier this year. This council is tasked with selecting a new president, prime minister, and cabinet, aiming to restore governance and address the ongoing unrest.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
The violence is said to have been orchestrated by Monel Felix, also known as Mikano, a local gang leader commanding the Wharf Jeremie port area. The majority of the killings occurred in Cite Soleil, a densely populated and impoverished district.
“This past weekend, at least 184 people were killed in violence orchestrated by the leader of a powerful gang in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince,” stated UN human rights chief Volker Turk.
The massacre reportedly stemmed from a conflict between Mikano and local Voodoo practitioners, a widely followed syncretic religion in Haiti associated with witchcraft and black magic. Following the illness and death of his son, Mikano allegedly confronted a Voodoo priest. While details of their exchange remain unclear, Mikano's fury led him to order the violent retribution.
“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,” declared the Committee for Peace and Development, a local civil group.
According to the statement, “The gang’s soldiers were responsible for identifying victims in their homes to take them to the chief’s stronghold to be executed.”
Local media reports indicate that victims endured torture and execution, with their mutilated remains reportedly burned in the streets of the capital. The UN condemned the massacre, emphasizing that this latest outbreak of violence has raised the toll of gang-related deaths in Haiti to 5,000 for the year.
The Caribbean nation has faced decades of political upheaval and violence, a situation that escalated significantly in 2021 following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise.
As a result, Haiti fell largely under the control of various criminal gangs until a transitional council was formed earlier this year. This council is tasked with selecting a new president, prime minister, and cabinet, aiming to restore governance and address the ongoing unrest.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
