January 29, 2026
The commune of L’Estère, in Lower Artibonite, has once again fallen victim to a series of deadly attacks attributed to the “Kokorat San Ras” gang. Between October 15 and 16, two residents lost their lives and vast rice fields were set on fire, further worsening the already severe economic and food crisis in the region.
The violence began with the looting of crops before escalating into armed clashes. Several civilians were seriously injured, while the assailants destroyed farmland — including plots belonging to members of self-defense groups powerless against the gang’s superior firepower.
Frustrated by the inaction of law enforcement, residents responded by blocking National Highway No. 1. The protest aimed to pressure the police into intervening against what they describe as the “total abandonment” of the area by the State.
Protesters accused local authorities of negligence, denouncing the lack of preventive measures despite repeated warning signs. According to them, gangs roam freely while the population is left to organize its own survival.
In their list of demands addressed to the new Departmental Police Director, Jean Alex Pierre-Louis, residents called for an immediate strengthening of the police presence. They demanded the deployment of specialized units and armored vehicles to restore security in a department where insecurity and hunger now advance hand in hand.
