At least 11 people were killed Monday in Haiti's central Artibonite region by gang members in a retaliatory attack following a security operation, according to local Mayor Hubert Ceneac.
The attack occurred after a Sri Lankan unit of the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force, a multinational mission aimed at combating widespread violence, conducted an operation in the area earlier in the day. The force pushed back gang members who had established illegal toll points in the region, Ceneac told Radio Kiskeya. Three gang members were killed during the operation, according to a statement from the force.
The UN-backed force remained in the area for only a few hours before returning to their base in the town of Gonaives, Ceneac said. Following their departure, gang members attacked residents in retaliation. "The bandits in retaliation attacked...they killed and burned homes," Ceneac said. He indicated that between 11 and 12 people had been killed in the assault.
The attack is attributed to members of the gang Kokorat San Ras, which operates in the region. The assault targeted residents of Gros-Morne in northwestern Haiti and represents the latest in a series of reprisal attacks against civilians in areas contested by armed groups, particularly in the Artibonite farming region.
The Artibonite region has been a focal point of gang violence as armed groups compete for control of territory. Gang members have used illegal toll points to extort money from residents and travelers passing through the area. The UN-backed Gang Suppression Force was deployed to help Haiti's police regain control from armed groups operating across the country.
Kokorat San Ras has been accused of kidnappings, extortion, and attacks against civilians in northern Haiti. The gang is among several armed groups that have expanded their operations and influence in recent years, contributing to the broader security crisis affecting the nation.