Gran Grif Gang Massacres Civilians in Jean-Denis, Artibonite; Up to 70 Killed

Armed members of the Gran Grif gang launched a pre-dawn attack (approximately 3 a.m.) on the communities of Jean-Denis and surrounding areas near Pont-Sondé in Haiti's Artibonite department on March 30, 2026. Gunmen shot civilians and burned homes in what rights groups described as a retaliatory strike following an assault on Gran Grif's base in Savien by a rival armed group. Haitian law enforcement confirmed at least 16 deaths; the Réseau National de Défense des Droits Humains (RNDDH) and Defenders Plus estimated up to 70 civilians killed and approximately 30 wounded, with victims including infants, pregnant women, teenagers, and elderly residents. Nearly 6,000 people were forced to flee their homes. The attack recalled the October 2024 Pont-Sondé massacre — carried out by the same Gran Grif gang — and underscored the UN's assessment that Gran Grif is responsible for approximately 80% of civilian deaths in the Artibonite region. The attack occurred less than two weeks before the Gang Suppression Force's expected arrival and amid an ongoing MSS-to-GSF security transition.