Devant le Conseil de Sécurité de l’ONU, le chef du BINUH en Haiti, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, a déclaré que le renforcement sécuritaire ne pourra produire des résultats durables sans restauration de l’autorité de l’Etat, reprise des services essentiels et relance de l’activité économique et sociale. Il a notamment cité la réouverture des écoles et des centres de santé ainsi que la création de moyens de subsistance.
Le responsable de l’ONU a également appelé à lutter contre l’impunité. Il a demandé que les auteurs de l’attaque, mais aussi ceux qui financent, arment ou facilitent les gangs, soient poursuivis.
Alors que la transition politique et les préparatifs électoraux se poursuivent, l’ONU estime que l’insécurité risque de compromettre ces efforts si les conditions de sécurité ne s’améliorent pas. Carlos Ruiz Massieu a enfin appelé à la libération immédiate et sans condition des personnes enlevées, parmi lesquelles des femmes et des enfants.
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Statement by Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti and Head of BINUH, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, to the Security Council
28 August 2026
Madam President,
Distinguished Members of the Security Council,
Thank you very much for convening this urgent meeting of the Security Council on Haiti. I address you today in the aftermath of another appalling atrocity inflicted upon the Haitian population.
As this Council is aware, during the night of 23 to 24 August, gangs launched a brutal attack against the commune of Kenscoff, in the hills overlooking Port-au-Prince.
This assault claimed the lives of at least 47 persons, including three boys and two girls, left dozens abducted and many others injured, and caused further displacement and suffering.
Homes were also set ablaze, and local population seeking refuge from the violence was attacked, including at a church, where gang members executed people in a courtyard and killed others as they attempted to escape.
It is with profound grief and sadness that I join the Secretary-General in condemning these horrific acts in the strongest possible terms.
And I call for the immediate and unconditional release of all persons that were abducted, including women and children.
Madam President,
This massacre is deeply shocking, but it is not an isolated tragedy.
It is the latest in a series of attacks affecting the commune of Kenscoff since early 2025 and demonstrates the continued capacity and determination of gangs to terrorize the population, expand their influence beyond the capital and pose a direct challenge to state authority. Haitians continue to pay a devastating and intolerable human cost, with BINUH documenting more than 1,400 people killed and more than 600 injured between April and June 2026 alone.
The attack in Kenscoff has generated a new wave of public indignation across all sectors of Haiti’s society, as well as international partners, with renewed calls to protect populations, strengthen security institutions and restore public order. These reactions reflect a growing recognition that security is the foundation for progress in all other areas.
Madam President,
Distinguished members,
This latest heartbreaking episode is a stark reminder of the urgent need to further strengthen international security support for Haiti.
In this regard, I welcome the decision by the national authorities on 26 August to bring together the Haitian National Police, the Armed Forces and the GSF – the Gang Suppression Force – to jointly assess these latest developments and coordinate operational plans and deployments on the ground. Notably, it was agreed that the Gang Suppression Force would strengthen its presence in the Port-au-Prince area, while the national security forces would reinforce with additional elements their deployment in Kenscoff.
National security institutions cannot be left to confront this threat without adequate support. The GSF represents clearly a critical component of the international response authorized by this Council. Its swift and full deployment is of the essence.
Sustained cooperation and coordination among national authorities and with the GSF will remain essential to address insecurity, protect communities and restore confidence among Haitians.
For far too long, Haitians have lived in fear of being killed, kidnapped or subjected to sexual violence.
Madam President,
This latest attack occurs at a critical moment in Haiti’s political transition.
Without improved security conditions, efforts to strengthen governance, accelerate the political process and advance electoral preparations will remain severely constrained and vulnerable to setbacks.
At the same time, as I emphasized before this Council in last July, and as the events in Kenscoff have tragically demonstrated, security operations will not be sufficient to produce sustainable security gains.
These security efforts must be accompanied by measures to restore State authority, basic services, and economic and social activity in affected communities.
This requires a coherent approach linking security operations to stabilization and recovery, community violence reduction, the reopening of schools and health facilities, and livelihood opportunities.
It also requires credible pathways for disengagement from gangs, particularly for children and young people recruited and exploited by gangs.
Madam President,
Distinguished Members of the Council,
Equally important is breaking the cycle of impunity.
The perpetrators of the attack of Kenscoff, as well as those who finance, arm and enable gang violence must brought to acount.
The effective activation and operationalization of the specialized judicial units mandated to investigate mass crimes, sexual violence, financial crimes –including the prompt opening of investigations into the Kenscoff’s attack — will be paramount to strengthen the rule of law and restore public confidence in State institutions.
Madam President,
Expressions of concern are important and reflect our solidarity with the Haitian people, but they must be accompanied by sustained action. Haiti urgently needs existing commitments to translate into concrete results.
The UN, the United Nations as a whole, remains fully committed to supporting Haitian-led efforts to improve security, advance the political process and create the conditions necessary for a peaceful, inclusive and stable country.
I thank you, madame President.
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