Haiti: As of June 16, kidnappers release all five remaining Turkish hostages taken captive early May /update 1

Event

As of June 16, kidnappers have released five Turkish hostages who had been kidnapped May 8 in Coutard, located 16 km (10 miles) northeast of Port-au-Prince. They were the last remaining captives from an incident in which the 400 Mawozo gang had captured a tour bus with eight Turkish citizens, two Haitians, and a Dominican bus driver.

The gang had released the other hostages in previous weeks. Reports do not indicate whether the kidnappers have received a ransom.

Context

The threat of kidnapping in Haiti is high, fueled by the presence of heavily armed gangs and the poor economic and security situations in the country, amid which gangs are attempting to force the resignation of the prime minister. Although kidnappers are most likely to target locals, kidnapping incidents involving foreign nationals continue to increase since 2021. The most common types of kidnapping in Haiti include basic, opportunistic kidnapping-for-ransom, express kidnapping, and virtual kidnapping. Foreign victims are usually released unharmed and relatively quickly; however, local victims face a higher threat of injury or death during confinement. The kidnapping threat is most acute in Port-au-Prince, Croix des Bouquets, and Cap-Haitien.

Advice

Exercise a high degree of vigilance due to the threat of kidnapping. Do not discuss plans and routes publicly. If operating in the area in the long term, vary routes and times of travel and ensure the use of secure transport. Maintain contact with diplomatic representations.