Gran Grif Massacres 70 Civilians in Jean-Denis as Haiti Gang Violence Spreads Beyond Port-au-Prince
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 2
Gran Grif Massacres 70 Civilians in Jean-Denis as Haiti Gang Violence Spreads Beyond Port-au-Prince
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 2
Summary
At least 70 civilians were killed and thousands fled after Gran Grif gunmen attacked Jean-Denis on 29 March, shooting residents, burning homes and turning the rural settlement into a killing ground.
Witnesses and verified videos, photos and satellite imagery indicate the gang targeted the village to seize it as a base, with victims ranging from 8-year-old Berlancia Dor to 85-year-old Estimable Fils-Aimé.
Artibonite, where Jean-Denis lies, has become a key battleground because it is Haiti’s breadbasket and a transport hub linking the capital to the north, making control of roads and territory lucrative for gangs.
The massacre reflects a wider rural spread: ACLED recorded violent incidents in Artibonite rising to 238 in 2025 from 39 in 2021, while nationwide incidents climbed to 1,626 and nearly 6,000 people were killed last year.
Security efforts remain thin outside Port-au-Prince after the Kenya-led MSS mission left in April, and a UN-backed replacement is not expected to reach its full 5,500-strong force until autumn.