RNDDH Executive Director, Pierre Espérance
Port-au-Prince, August 26, 2026.- The Executive Director of the National Network for the Defence of Human Rights (RNDDH), Pierre Espérance, in an interview granted on Wednesday 26 August to the show Panel Magik on Magik 9, denounces serious shortcomings in the response of the authorities to the deadly attack in Kenscoff on the night of August 23-24. Based on information gathered from families and individuals in the area, he called into question, inter alia, the withdrawal of an armoured vehicle, the lack of strengthening of the police system and the continuing weaknesses of the judicial system.
According to Pierre Espérance, the RNDDH continues to collect information on the events in Kenscoff and has already established contacts with affected residents and families. He claims that an armoured vehicle had been stationed in a strategic area to protect the police station and prevent attacks by armed groups, before being withdrawn about a week before the offensive.
The Executive Director of the RNDDH believes that this withdrawal should have been offset by the deployment of another armoured or specialized unit, especially after threats to attack Kenscoff publicly on social networks. For him, the authorities had elements to anticipate a possible offensive and must explain the reasons for the change in the security arrangements.
Pierre Espérance also raises questions about the coordination within the Haitian National Police (HNP), the operation of his high command and the use of available information. In particular, he wondered about possible indiscipline, the operational means available and the monitoring mechanisms for assessing decisions taken on the ground.
At the judicial level, the RNDDH official denounces a situation which he is particularly concerned about. He accuses some magistrates of contributing to impunity by allowing the release of persons arrested by the police, sometimes through questionable procedures. According to him, the efforts of police officers are thus compromised when the cases referred to the court do not succeed.
Pierre Espérance therefore calls on the authorities to assume their responsibilities and to strengthen cohesion between the PNH and justice. It also considers it necessary to consolidate areas where the police have recently made progress, particularly in certain areas of the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, in order to prevent armed groups from resuming ground.
Finally, the RNDDH leader considers that the response to the security crisis cannot be limited to changes of officials within the PNH. It calls for greater coherence, resources, intelligence and political will to enable units deployed on the ground to maintain their achievements and prevent further attacks.
W.A.
