(2024-12) United Nations Investigation Report on Wharf Jeremie
Summary — Between December 6 and 11, 2024, the Wharf Jérémie gang in Port-au-Prince executed at least 207 people, including elderly Vodou practitioners and their families. The victims were killed with machetes or shot, and their bodies were burned or dismembered and dumped into the sea. This report highlights the alarming context of violence and widespread impunity in Haiti.
Key Findings
- At least 207 people were executed by the Wharf Jérémie gang between December 6 and 11, 2024, in Port-au-Prince.
- Victims included elderly Vodou practitioners accused of witchcraft, their family members, and individuals suspected of leaking information.
- Bodies were burned or dismembered and dumped into the sea to destroy evidence of the killings.
- Widespread impunity allows gang leaders like Micanor Altès to operate with little to no accountability from Haitian authorities.
- Over 5,358 people have been killed and 2,155 injured in Haiti since January 2024 due to gang violence.
Full Description
This flash report details the execution of at least 207 people (134 men and 73 women) by the Wharf Jérémie criminal gang, led by Micanor Altès, in Port-au-Prince between December 6 and 11, 2024. The majority of victims were elderly individuals accused of practicing Vodou and allegedly causing the illness of the gang leader’s child, along with their family members or those suspected of leaking information. The killings involved shooting or machetes, followed by attempts to erase evidence by burning or dismembering bodies and dumping them into the sea. The report also highlights the broader context of escalating gang violence, human rights violations, and widespread impunity in Haiti, noting that over 5,358 people have been killed and 2,155 injured since January 2024.
The document further describes the gang's criminal governance, control over the port area, and its withdrawal from the Viv Ansanm coalition. It provides recommendations to Haitian authorities, including the Public Prosecutor, the Transitional Presidential Council, and the Haitian National Police, to ensure access to justice and regain territorial control. Recommendations to the international community focus on supporting the Multinational Security Support Mission, combating impunity, and enforcing stricter arms embargoes.