Internal Strife Within Viv Ansanm Coalition Leaves Dozens Dead in Port-au-Prince, Including Children

Deadly Internal Conflict Grips Port-au-Prince

Port-au-Prince, Haiti – A brutal internal conflict within the notorious Viv Ansanm gang coalition has led to the deaths of at least 49 people since Monday, December 8, according to local human rights groups. The violence, concentrated in the Bel-Air neighborhood, marks a significant and unusual breakdown within the alliance that was formed to reduce inter-gang fighting.

The casualties include a devastating toll on the most vulnerable, with 10 children among those killed. Reports indicate that these children had been recruited by gangs. Additionally, 19 gang members and a man in his 60s, struck by a stray bullet, are also among the deceased. The violence further extended to 19 women, partners of gang members, who were reportedly killed by the Krache Dife gang while seeking medical attention for the injured men. The overall death toll is expected to rise as clashes continue and access to the affected areas remains limited.

High-Ranking Gang Members Targeted

The clashes have seen the targeting of prominent figures within the gang structure. Dèdè, identified as one of the highest-ranking gang members operating in the Bel-Air slum, was reportedly beheaded. Another powerful gang leader, Kempès Sanon, a former police officer, sustained injuries and has since been replaced. Sanon's gang is a part of the Viv Ansanm coalition, which the U.S. has designated as a foreign terrorist organization.

Dispute Over Kidnappings Fuels Violence

The catalyst for the internal fighting appears to be a dispute over the practice of kidnappings. Jimmy 'Barbecue' Chérizier, a former elite police officer and a leader of Viv Ansanm, released a video addressing the conflict. He claimed that the coalition had demanded an end to kidnappings, but some members refused to comply. Chérizier stated that Viv Ansanm was 'fighting for the country' and had intervened to 'free the hostages' from the dissenting faction.

The Viv Ansanm ('Live Together') coalition was formed in September 2023, initially leading to a decrease in gang-related violence as various armed groups agreed to cease hostilities among themselves. However, this recent outbreak of internal violence underscores the fragile nature of such alliances in a city where gangs control an estimated 90% of the territory.