Haitian Gang Threatening to Harm Hostages if New Demands Are Not Met
Members of the 400 Mawoso Haitian gang are demanding $1 million per person that they are holding hostage. Justice Minister Liszt Quitel stated that the gang has not set a deadline for when they would demand the money.
The 17 people kidnapped were a part of Christian Aid Ministries, an Ohio-based nonprofit organization, the group consisted of 16 Americans and one Canadian.
The gang 400 Mawoso controls the Ganthier commune in the suburb of Port-au-Prince, the missionaries were abducted on the commune on Saturday.
For several months the group has caused chaos by engaging in armed combat with rival gangs and kidnapping government officials and businessmen.
NSA Sullivan says he briefs Biden every day on the US hostages in Haiti. Sullivan says Biden has taken a “deep interest in making sure every single one of those Americans gets home safely”— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) October 26, 2021
The Christian Aid Ministries has described the families of the hostages as being from Mennonite, Amish, and other Anabaptist communities in Tennessee, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Ontario.
Haiti has been in a state of disarray for many years, with the recent assassination of their president Jovenel Moise in July and natural disasters affecting the island, gangs have taken it as an opportunity to seize control of the government and parts of the country.
Following the president’s assassination, the criminal organization that was once a small group started to expand by establishing alliances with other organizations allowing them to gain control from the east of Port-au-Prince to the border of the Dominican Republic.
Biden is engaged in an effort to rescue 16 Americans, including five children, being held hostage by a gang in Haiti since they were kidnapped 11 days ago. “Every possible option” is on the table to secure their freedom, Sullivan says.
(w/ @Jacquiecharles) https://t.co/1If5IwKC9A— Michael Wilner (@mawilner) October 26, 2021
Gangs have long been an issue on the island but are now using kidnappings to bring in money, Joel Edouard Vorbe, leader of the left-wing party Fanmi Lavalas says kidnappings are what bring in the most money.
A video was released on Wednesday that has been circulating on social media, where the gang leader threatened to kill the hostages if his demands were not met.
American laws do not allow for negotiations in ransom situations, especially when it is a terrorist group. It is illegal to pay ransom to a terrorist group because it would be considered providing material goods.
Many are hoping for the safe arrival of these citizens.
