The locality of Seguin, located in the commune of Marigot (Southeast department), was the scene of a violent armed attack on the night of Monday, April 13 to Tuesday, April 14, 2026. The death toll stands at least seven people killed, several houses burned, while the local police substation as well as two vehicles of the Haitian National Police (PNH) were reduced to ashes. A methodical attack carried out by a coalition of armed bandits coming from the neighboring commune of Kenscoff, where they have established their bases for more than a year.
According to testimonies gathered from residents of the area, the attackers are not strangers. They are members of the criminal coalition that has been operating for several months in the communal sections of Kenscoff, a commune located in the heights of Port-au-Prince. These groups, which control vast territories in the metropolitan region and its surroundings, are now extending their influence towards the Southeast.
The attack was quick and brutal. In just a few hours, the criminal coalition sowed terror, killed seven people according to a still provisional count, and dealt a severe blow to local law enforcement.
One of the attackers’ priority targets was clearly the Seguin police substation. The latter was completely set on fire, as were two vehicles of the Haitian National Police (PNH) stationed there. This destruction deals a major blow to the intervention capacity of law enforcement in the Southeast region.
Residents of Seguin do not hide their anger. They recall that in February 2025, the PNH communications directorate had announced the training of several agents from the departmental law enforcement units. These agents had been specially trained in driving and handling armored vehicles in high-risk situations.
The stated objective was clear: to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Southeast Departmental Directorate to face the rise in insecurity.
But for Seguin residents, this training and deployment were useless.
For several months, pressure from criminal groups had been felt on the outskirts of Seguin. Sporadic incursions, attempts to take control of roads, threats made against the population.
“The bandits took advantage of our vulnerability. They know the police are overwhelmed, poorly equipped, and cannot be everywhere at once. But what happened here is a total defeat of the state.”
The Seguin attack is part of a broader dynamic. For several months, criminal coalitions, including the one known as “Viv Ansanm” (Living Together), have been extending their territorial grip well beyond the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince.
After controlling entire neighborhoods of the capital, these groups are now advancing towards neighboring departments: Artibonite, Centre, and now the Southeast. They impose illegal tolls, extort the population, loot businesses, and do not hesitate to kill anyone who resists them.
Faced with local powerlessness, local authorities and community representatives have issued a solemn appeal to the country’s highest authorities.
The mayor of Marigot, René Danneau, was one of the first to react. Speaking on Magik 9 radio, he directly appealed to the Prime Minister and head of the Superior Council of the National Police (CSPN), Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, as well as to the PNH Directorate General.
“The situation is untenable. We are requesting an immediate intervention. This is not just about Seguin, but about the entire Southeast department. If nothing is done, other localities will fall,” he warned.
The Seguin attack is not an isolated incident. It is an alarm signal for the entire country. It demonstrates, if any further proof were needed, that gangs are no longer content with controlling neighborhoods in the capital as well as the departments of Artibonite and Centre. They are expanding methodically, taking advantage of the absence of the state and the weakness of the security forces.
