In a rare and hard-fought victory for Haitian authorities, police forces announced this week that they have successfully reclaimed control of a critical telecommunications hub in Kenscoff, a community on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. The site, known as Téléco, had been seized last week by heavily armed gangs—an event that briefly disrupted air traffic and internet connections across the region, according to reports from the Associated Press and other outlets.
The operation, which began before dawn on August 25, 2025, lasted around two hours and was spearheaded by Haiti’s National Police with support from a United Nations-backed multinational mission led by Kenyan police. Michel-Ange Louis Jeune, spokesperson for the National Police, described the effort as a strong message from newly appointed police chief André Jonas Vladimir Paraison. "This is a strong message that the new police chief sent," Jeune stated during a press conference, emphasizing the determination of the force. "When the population is sleeping, the police are not sleeping. They are working to ensure that people can sleep."
During the raid, police uncovered a significant cache of weapons, including automatic firearms with scratched-out or obliterated serial numbers, along with more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition. Jeune did not disclose whether there were any casualties during the operation and declined to take questions at the news briefing, leaving some details shrouded in uncertainty.
The initial takeover of the Téléco site was brazenly publicized by the gangs themselves. Videos circulated on social media showed masked individuals switching off servers, dismantling equipment, and stacking motherboards outside the facility. One gang member, known as Didi, issued a chilling ultimatum to the government: "If I don’t receive any calls from you guys, I’m going to get my clan to come burn the whole system now, and there won’t be any communications." The gang gave the government a one-week deadline to begin negotiations, though they did not specify their demands.
Despite the apparent threat, Haiti’s civil aviation agency managed to implement emergency measures that kept the disruption of air traffic and internet services to a minimum. The agency condemned the gangs’ actions, but stressed that the impact had been relatively minor due to their quick response.
The attack was attributed to Viv Ansanm, a powerful gang federation that has become notorious for targeting key government infrastructure. Earlier this year, the United States designated Viv Ansanm as a foreign terror organization, underscoring the growing international concern about Haiti’s security crisis. The group’s violent reach is not new: in 2024, gunmen forced the closure of Haiti’s main international airport for nearly three months and orchestrated a prison break that freed approximately 4,000 inmates.
In the video documenting the takeover, Didi also called on the government to supply the police with ammunition so they could pursue gang members more effectively—a demand that hints at the complicated, sometimes contradictory dynamics between criminal groups and law enforcement in Haiti.
The successful police operation at Téléco was hailed as a much-needed morale boost for both local authorities and the multinational mission led by Kenyan commander Godfrey Otunge. Otunge, who appeared at the August 26 news conference, urged the Haitian public to remain patient, promising that more raids would follow in other gang-controlled territories. "Be patient; you will see results," he said, conveying cautious optimism about the future.
The Téléco facility sits near an orphanage that was raided by gangs earlier in August, a grim reminder of the broader human cost of Haiti’s security breakdown. During that attack, eight people—including an Irish missionary and a three-year-old child—were kidnapped and remain missing. This incident is only one of many that have left communities in Kenscoff and beyond living in fear. Gangs are now estimated to control about 90% of Port-au-Prince, and Kenscoff has faced repeated attacks throughout 2025 as criminal organizations seek to expand their grip on the capital and its surroundings.
The recent events at Téléco and the orphanage are part of a broader pattern of escalating gang violence and shifting alliances. A video posted on social media recently showed Jimmy Chérizier—known as Barbecue and the leader of Viv Ansanm—engaged in a seemingly friendly conversation with Kempes Sanon, a former rival and leader of the Haut Belair/Les Argentins armed group. Both men are former police officers, and their newfound camaraderie has raised eyebrows among analysts and the public alike.
Diego Da Rin, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, described the video as "a bit unusual," noting that it was the first time Sanon had publicly revealed his face in such a context. The interaction has sparked speculation about the future dynamics of gang power in Haiti, as alliances shift and old rivalries appear to soften. The potential implications for security in Port-au-Prince and beyond are significant, though experts caution that the situation remains fluid and unpredictable.
The roots of Haiti’s current crisis run deep. Years of political instability, economic hardship, and weakened state institutions have created a power vacuum that armed groups have exploited with increasing boldness. The government’s reliance on international support—including the Kenyan-led mission—reflects both the scale of the challenge and the limits of local capacity. Yet, the successful operation at Téléco suggests that, with determination and coordination, meaningful progress is still possible.
For many Haitians, however, day-to-day life remains fraught with uncertainty. The specter of gang violence looms over neighborhoods, businesses, and schools. Kidnappings, extortion, and attacks on infrastructure have become distressingly routine. While the police victory at Téléco offers a glimmer of hope, it also serves as a stark reminder of the work that remains to restore security and rebuild trust in public institutions.
As authorities prepare for further operations against entrenched gangs, the eyes of both Haiti and the international community remain fixed on the unfolding situation. How the government, its police force, and their multinational partners navigate the coming weeks may well determine whether this latest victory is a turning point—or just another fleeting reprieve in a long and difficult struggle.
