Haitian Gangs Threaten Violence Amid Increasing Turmoil
Last weekend, leaders of Haitian gangs took to social media to deliver a stark warning to the public, promising imminent trouble. Their threats quickly materialized into reality. Joseph Wilson, a notorious gang leader better known by his alias Lanmou Sanjou, released a recorded message on Sunday that circulated widely, declaring, “If you are reckless in the streets, you will pay the consequences, as of tomorrow.”
Wilson spoke on behalf of a coalition known as Viv Ansanm — which translates to “Living Together,” a name that belies the terror they have inflicted across Haiti in recent months. He ominously vowed that gang members would be “in the streets,” signaling an escalation in their violent activities.
Within a mere 48 hours of Wilson’s message, chaos erupted. At least three U.S. aircraft were targeted by gunfire, leading to the urgent closure of Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. This left passengers stranded globally, caught in a web of fear and uncertainty. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration swiftly suspended all U.S. flights to Haiti for an entire month. American Airlines announced it would not resume flights to the country until at least February, while even United Nations humanitarian flights were grounded, highlighting the severity of the situation.
The violence was not confined to the airport. Tragically, on Tuesday, Dr. Deborah Pierre, a respected urologist, was shot dead while attempting to enter her car in Port-au-Prince. Her father, a dentist, was also wounded in the incident, as reported by her former boss in South Florida, Dr. Angelo Gousse.
In another alarming development, Doctors Without Borders reported that their personnel were stopped by police on Monday and subsequently tear-gassed by a vigilante mob. During this chaotic encounter, wounded patients they were transporting in an ambulance, who were suspected gang members, were tragically killed. The violence and lawlessness gripping Haiti have created a precarious environment, endangering the lives of both healthcare workers and the citizens they strive to assist.
