Several Christian missionaries and their family members were kidnapped by a gang in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, on Saturday. That reported the New York Times citing security officials from the Caribbean state. Details of the kidnapping initially remained unclear.
It is known, however, that the missionaries from the United States were abducted from a bus, according to Haitian officials. According to the sources, it is said to be “up to 17 abductees”. The bus was on the way to the airport. Some members of the group wanted to be dropped off there, it was said, before the rest of them wanted to move on to another destination in Haiti.
The state’s monopoly of force in times of crisis
In the Caribbean state, which has already been severely affected by numerous crises, there has recently been another increase in violence in the capital Port-au-Prince. According to various estimates, gangs control roughly half of the city. Streets that were once busy are now orphaned.
The state’s monopoly on the use of force is in question, the police are in a desperate state. Not until Monday, they said New York Times, said a school bus was being shot at by a gang. Five people are said to have been injured. Another bus was hijacked the same day.
The rise in gang violence has displaced thousands of people and made economic activity difficult in America’s poorest country. The country remains paralyzed following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July and an earthquake in August that killed more than 2,000 people.