Haitian police officer killed by gangs in Solino amid calls for PNH presence

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Another violent attack by armed gangs in the densely populated Solino neighborhood on August 15 resulted in several casualties, including the killing of police officer James Dorsainvil, who was part of the 24th promotion of the Haitian National Police (PNH). Michel-Ange Louis Jeune, the police spokesman, confirmed the killing of Dorsainvil during a press conference and said reinforcements had been deployed to restore order to the area.

Solino, a notorious slum in northeastern Port-au-Prince, has long been targeted by gangs seeking to seize power. The area, about two miles from the National Palace in Champs-de-Mars, has no police station and does not benefit from regular police patrols. According to a police union official, this lack of law enforcement has increased the area’s vulnerability since December 2022, as gangs have exerted more control.

“No, there isn’t; there never was,” police officer Barthelemy Valmont told The Haitian Times about the lack of police presence in Solino. “Those in charge don’t make the right decisions so that most people can relieve themselves a little bit.”

The PNH spokesperson confirmed that the murdered officer, Dorsainvil, was a resident of the area. He was shot during the attacks by the violent gangs, which resulted in the wounding of several other residents and the burning of several houses by the attackers.

The violence in Solino has been largely attributed to residents’ refusal to allow the Bel-Air gang, which borders the area, to pass through the neighborhood with kidnapped individuals. In early 2022, police officers living in Solino shot at a Bel-Air gang vehicle involved in a kidnapping as it drove through.

According to Valmont, who is currently coordinator of Haiti’s National Police Union (SYNAPOHA), the gang’s leader, Kempès Sanon, saw this as an act of resistance and has since targeted Solino.

Valmont added that the conflict escalated further in December 2022, with the gang seeking to gain full control by instilling fear in residents and driving them out of the Bastia Corridor, a prominent corner of Solino. He said the bandits from Bel-Air had already taken over areas such as Anglade, Kay Mè, St Michel and Carrefour Peyant, all of which are part of Solino.

From December 2022 to August 2024, the Bel-Air Solino gang has been continuously attacking. Although precise casualty figures are not available, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) reported that 128 people were killed or injured in gang attacks in Delmas 24 and Solino in the past quarter.

Solino cannot be left completely under gang control, Valmont said

Despite Solino’s proximity to key security installations, including the West 1 Departmental Directorate of the PNH Law Enforcement Unit (UDMO) and the headquarters of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAD’H), the Bel-Air gang continues its criminal activities.

Valmont criticized the authorities for not taking decisive action to prevent the escalation of gang violence. He stressed that the leader of the Superior Council of the National Police (CSPN) should have acted earlier to protect vulnerable communities. Valmont argued that managers, in all fairness, should resign if they cannot achieve the primary expected results.

Some areas in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area have no police presence because they are pursued, overrun, outgunned, and outnumbered by powerful gangs. Other areas, such as Solino, however, have never had a police presence. The Carrefour de l’Aéroport police station remains unmanned despite rehabilitation efforts, leaving areas such as Portail Léogâne, St Joseph, Delmas 3, Bon Repos, and Drouillard vulnerable to gang control.

“SYNAPOHA and members of the civilian population are demanding answers from the transitional government on the issues,” said the police union coordinator, who stressed that the police must be better equipped to serve the Haitian people. “These problems have been going on for more than six years. We are demanding strong responses, the reopening of police stations and the restoration of security so that everyone can move freely.”

Solino is a strategic location for gangs, providing a route to escape from police and return to Bel-Air. If the Bel-Air gang establishes a base in Solino, it could extend its control over areas such as Delmas 18, Delmas 24, Caravelle, Poupelard, Nazon, Christ-Roi and Lalue. These areas contain a significant portion of Port-au-Prince’s population and important facilities such as schools, churches, medical centers, banks and gas stations.

“Authorities must act quickly to prevent Solino from falling completely under the gang’s control,” Valmont said. “Rapid measures are needed to set up a 24-hour security system in Solino to thwart the gang’s plans and protect what is left.”

“If the country’s authorities do not take the right decisions, the Haitian people will face dark days ahead,” he said.

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