Hundreds gathered in Port-au-Prince’s Cité Soleil over the weekend, mourning the loss of eight residents—four of them children—killed in a drone strike that has become a tragic symbol of Haiti’s escalating battle with gang violence and the controversial tactics now employed by authorities. The funeral, held Saturday, October 4, 2025, brought a community together in grief, but also in fear. Some mourners, still traumatized by the attack, mistook a bird overhead for another drone, triggering panic and a sudden scattering of the crowd, according to the Associated Press.
The events that led to this moment began on September 20, when explosive drones targeted a suspected gang leader in Cité Soleil, a densely populated slum under the control of Viv Ansanm—a powerful gang coalition designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization. The attack killed nine people and wounded 17 others, as reported by Doctors Without Borders, who treated the victims at their hospitals. Among the dead were children who had simply been playing outside, their lives cut short in a conflict that increasingly blurs the lines between combatant and civilian.
Claudia Bobrun, 30, was among the bereaved, unable to look at the coffin of her 8-year-old daughter, Samira Nelson. "She was a happy child who died while playing with friends," Bobrun told the Associated Press. Another resident, Jislene Statune, 50, lost two grandchildren and her eldest daughter, who supported the family by selling used clothes. The community, recognizing the depth of the tragedy, helped cover the funeral costs.
But the pain in Cité Soleil is echoed throughout Haiti, where gang violence has surged since the assassination of President Jovenal Moïse in 2021. Gangs now control 90% of Port-au-Prince, expanding their reach into the countryside with activities that include looting, kidnapping, sexual assault, and rape. The resulting chaos has displaced more than 1.3 million Haitians, leaving many homeless and deepening a hunger crisis that United Nations officials warn is approaching famine levels.
International attention has turned sharply to the methods being used to combat the gangs. On October 2, 2025, U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Türk addressed the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, condemning Haiti’s use of explosive drones as “disproportionate” and “likely unlawful” under international human rights law. Türk revealed that in 2025 alone, police units had summarily executed 174 people accused of gang affiliation, and government drone strikes in Port-au-Prince had killed at least 559 people, including 11 children. "Most of these drone strikes are likely unlawful under international human rights law," Türk said, warning that such actions risk deepening Haiti’s humanitarian and security crisis.
One of the most harrowing incidents cited by Türk involved a drone attack during an alleged gang leader’s birthday celebration, where gifts were being distributed to local children. At least eight children were killed when the drone struck the gathering, according to local media. These statistics, paired with the stories of individual families, paint a grim picture of a country caught between the brutality of armed gangs and the heavy-handed tactics of a desperate state.
The use of drones marks a significant escalation in Haiti’s fight against gangs. In March 2025, the transitional government turned to Vectus Global, a private security firm reportedly linked to Blackwater founder Erik Prince, to conduct drone operations targeting suspected gang members. Neither Vectus Global nor Haitian authorities have commented on these allegations, leaving many questions unanswered about the oversight and accountability of such operations.
For many Haitians, the promise of international intervention has offered little relief. The U.N. Security Council had previously authorized a Kenyan-led multinational force in 2023 to support Haitian police, but the mission has been hampered by severe funding and manpower shortages. Just this week, the Security Council voted to expand the mission’s mandate, transforming it into a 5,550-member “Gang Suppression Force” with the authority to arrest suspected gang members—powers the previous force lacked. However, as the Associated Press notes, the deployment of this expanded force is contingent on voluntary contributions from member states, which have yet to materialize.
Haiti’s ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, Ann-Kathryne Lassègue, defended her government’s actions amid mounting criticism. "We have tried to stem violence," Lassègue stated. "Nothing is perfect, but nothing is standing still. Our government is doing what it can with the means it has." Her comments reflect the frustration of a government facing immense pressure from both within and outside its borders, struggling to maintain order with limited resources and little outside support.
The reality on the ground, however, is grim. Armed groups have tightened their grip on Port-au-Prince and are steadily expanding into rural areas. The Viv Ansanm coalition, in particular, has become a dominant force, its reach extending far beyond Cité Soleil. The violence and instability have left millions of Haitians feeling abandoned, their hopes for peace and security repeatedly dashed.
For the families of Cité Soleil and countless others across Haiti, the consequences of this conflict are deeply personal. The trauma of losing loved ones to indiscriminate violence is compounded by the constant threat of further attacks. The collective funeral this past Saturday was not just an expression of grief, but also a stark reminder of the ongoing crisis facing the nation.
As the international community debates the legality and morality of Haiti’s counter-gang tactics, the people of Port-au-Prince and beyond are left to navigate the daily realities of fear, displacement, and loss. The expanded U.N. mandate offers a glimmer of hope, but until meaningful support arrives and accountability is ensured, many Haitians remain trapped between the violence of gangs and the dangers of state-led crackdowns.
Haiti stands at a crossroads, its future uncertain as it grapples with lawlessness, humanitarian catastrophe, and the urgent need for both security and justice. The world is watching, but for now, the pain and resilience of communities like Cité Soleil continue to define the nation’s struggle.
