Port-au-Prince, February 17, 2025 – The Haitian National Police (PNH) announced that it had freed 13 hostages during an operation conducted on Sunday, February 16, in the commune of Kenscoff. The intervention aimed to push back the assailants from the terrorist coalition Viv Ansanm, who had seized the Téléco site. According to Lionel Lazare, deputy spokesperson for the PNH, the attack resulted in the deaths of a soldier from the Haitian Armed Forces and two agents from the Protected Areas Security Brigade (BESAP).
The PNH deputy spokesperson stated that specialized units, with the support of Kenyan police officers, successfully regained control of this strategic site. He also announced the imminent deployment of reinforcements from the Haitian Armed Forces to secure the area and prevent further attacks.
Later that same Sunday, a joint operation led by the Delmas police station and the SWAT TEAM unit neutralized two members of the Viv Ansanm coalition in an exchange of gunfire. The intervention also led to the recovery of several uniforms belonging to the Intervention and Order Maintenance Corps (CIMO) and the administrative police, as well as a communication radio used by the criminals.
The PNH deputy spokesperson praised the cooperation of the public, emphasizing that information provided by citizens was crucial to the success of these operations. He urged all sectors of society to actively participate in the fight against insecurity and encouraged the population to continue collaborating with law enforcement.
Despite the arrival of new equipment and the presence of the multinational mission for more than eight months, gangs continue to expand their control. Several new areas have fallen under their influence, and insecurity remains widespread across multiple regions of the country.
As of now, no known gang leader has been neutralized, and despite intensified PNH operations, organized crime—becoming increasingly structured and aggressive—remains difficult to contain.