SUMMARY

Gangs in Haiti were known for perpetrating violence against civilians in territories under the rule of a rival gang, but also against civilians that lived in the territories they themselves control. This type of violence, in the form of executions and sexual violence, for example, were intended to intimidate the population into submission. The members of gang coalition G-Pep were no exception to these brutal practices.

In this context, from 27 February to 5 March 2023, gang members belonging to the G9 gang coalition attacked various neighborhoods of upper Bel Air controlled by Kempès Sanon, one of the leaders from G-Pep. Over the course of one week, continuous armed attacks, raids, and sporadic shootings resulted in significant human casualties. While there were clashes between both parties, there were also reports of attacks against civilians from members of both coalitions.

Armed bandits from G-Pep carried out several assaults on territories under G9 rule, for example, Corridor Bastia, Delmas 24, Nazon and Solino. Those raids included the use of heavy gunfire and the burning of neighbors’ homes and other buildings, such as a refugee shelter and a voodoo temple.

On the other hand, between August and September 2023, several civilians living in a neighborhood under the G-Pep command, namely Nan Brooklyn in Cité Soleil, were murdered by gang members as punishment for defying the gang’s rule.

G-Pep first became active as a one-sided actor in UCDP data in 2023, when the one-sided violence resulted in over 25 civilian deaths. The threshold was reached in March that year when civilians in territories under G9 command were attacked in retaliation for the aggressions G9 carried in upper Bel-Air.