A brutal gang attack on a church and surrounding community in Haiti has left 47 people dead and 50 others kidnapped, according to a report from International Christian Concern published August 28.
The assault targeted the Kenscoff commune, where violence in Port-au-Prince had already displaced a group of people who sought refuge in a church prayer center. That sanctuary was not respected. More than 20 people were executed inside the church building itself as part of the wider attack.
Attack Details
The Viv Ansam gang began its assault at 10:30 p.m. and continued into the next morning, terrorizing the community by kidnapping residents and setting homes and animals ablaze. The gang’s primary target was the Evangelical church Ark of the New Testament.
Viv Ansam and several rival gangs are currently fighting for control within Haiti’s capital, a conflict that has already displaced more than 18,000 residents. The gangs are now pushing their influence into surrounding regions, with Viv Ansam having attacked nearby agricultural communities since 2025.
Government Response Questioned
The Haitian government issued a statement expressing deep condolences to the grieving families and all victims of what it called a heinous criminal attack in Kenscoff. Authorities added that the mourning should also serve as a challenge, vowing to respond with the force of the law and the legitimate exercise of public power.
However, the repeated nature of such killings raises doubts about the government’s capacity to quell the violence. This latest massacre follows numerous similar incidents that suggest the government has been unable to effectively confront the gang crisis.
Ongoing Crisis
The attack highlights the deteriorating security situation in Haiti, where gangs have expanded beyond the capital into rural and agricultural areas. The displacement of more than 18,000 residents underscores the scale of the humanitarian emergency.
International Christian Concern’s reporting draws attention to the particular targeting of Christian communities in the violence. The fate of the 50 kidnapped individuals remains uncertain, with calls for authorities to secure their rescue.
The Kenscoff attack is the latest in a series of gang atrocities that have plagued Haiti, as armed groups vie for territorial control and extend their influence with impunity. The international community has so far offered no indication of substantial aid specifically aimed at addressing the crisis facing the country’s persecuted Christian population.
Source: pjmedia.com — https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/08/30/haiti-47-killed-50-kidnapped-in-gang-attack-on-church-n4956706
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