Violence Escalates in Haiti’s Heartland as Gangs Attack Petite Rivière, Leaving Four Dead

The ongoing wave of gang violence in Haiti has reached another community in the country’s central region, as armed groups launched a deadly assault on the town of Petite Rivière in Artibonite. According to a local human rights group, at least four people—among them an 11-year-old child—lost their lives in the attack.

Speaking to the Associated Press, Bertide Horace, spokesperson for the Commission for Dialogue, Reconciliation and Awareness to Save the Artibonite, confirmed that the attack began on Thursday and continued into Monday, with police forces still engaged in clashes with the gang members.

At least 15 residents were reportedly injured by gunfire, and over a dozen homes were set ablaze during the violence. Petite Rivière now joins a growing list of communities in the Artibonite region—once considered a relatively calm part of Haiti—ravaged by expanding gang activity.

This latest assault follows the March attacks on Mirebalais, where gangs stormed a local prison and released over 500 inmates, and Saut d’Eau, a spiritually significant site for Vodou-Catholic pilgrimages, which was also targeted.

Although gangs already control a staggering 85% of Port-au-Prince, they have steadily expanded their reach into more rural areas in recent years. The growing insecurity has created a dire situation for residents with little or no access to state protection.

On Monday, the leader of the Ti Bois gang, known as Chrisla, declared a three-day shutdown in the Carrefour neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. In an announcement, he ordered businesses and public transport to suspend operations, permitting only hospitals and firefighters to function. Chrisla claimed the action was part of a broader call for national reconciliation, stating he wanted “a new Haiti where everyone can sit at the same table.”

However, Haitian authorities remain firm in their stance against dialogue with criminal groups. Officials have repeatedly stated that gang leaders will not be included in any negotiations aimed at stabilizing the country.

Efforts to restore order, including a UN-backed peace mission led by Kenyan police, have so far faced significant challenges. Despite their deployment beginning last year, violence has continued to escalate.

In 2024 alone, gang-related violence claimed more than 5,600 lives across the country, with over one million people displaced from their homes. As communities like Petite Rivière bear the brunt of this ongoing crisis, many Haitians are left wondering when relief will come.



By WafricNews World Desk | April 29, 2025