International

Shock in Haiti over the massacre of more than 70 people at the hands of an armed gang

The massacre perpetrated early last Thursday morning by the armed group Gran Grif in Pont Sondé, about 100 kilometers from Port-au-Prince, left more than 70 dead, including women, children and the elderly, and has shocked depressed Haiti, immersed for years in a crisis that is only worsening.

The balance of the massacre in Pont Sondé, in the commune of Saint-Marc, in Artibonite, could increase with the hours, because sporadic shots are still heard in the area, which cannot be accessed due to violence.

Several houses and vehicles were set on fire, forcing survivors to take refuge in other places or in the public square of Saint-Marc after walking for hours and crossing bodies along the way.

Inhuman and unacceptable acts

The Prime Minister, Garry Conille, visited the victims this Saturday at the Saint Nicolas de Saint Marc hospital, where he sympathized with the families and expressed his deepest indignation for these acts, which he described as inhumane.

“This new act of violence, directed against innocent civilians, is unacceptable and requires an urgent, rigorous and coordinated response from the State,” said Conille, in office since June 12, replacing Ariel Henry, who resigned in the midst of an outbreak of violence.

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During his visit, the head of government reiterated his government’s “full commitment” to work “relentlessly” to restore the security and authority of the State and protect all citizens.

Several units of the Haitian National Police (PNH) are deployed in the commune of Saint-Marc, where they have sent armored vehicles and contingents of the Multinational Security Support Force, which is led by Kenya, with the aim of reinforcing police officers who are already on the ground carrying out operations to dismantle criminal gangs, the Police announced on Facebook.

The division commissioner of the Artibonite Police, Jean Louis Paul Ménard, was dismissed after the massacre for his inability to neutralize the armed gangs that control the region. Instead, they appointed Caleb Exantus, who took office yesterday.

A planned massacre in Haiti

Rumors of a planned massacre had been circulating in Pont-Sondé for at least two months, according to a report by the NGO National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (Rnddh), which expressed its dismay at the news on Saturday.

The armed men blamed the local population for joining forces with those of the members of “The Coalition” – a self-defense group – who are trying to stop criminal activities at the Gran Grif base and prevent them from profiting from the toll they have recently installed on the national road,” Rnddh revealed.

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This massacre was characterized by murders, injuries caused by bullets and knives, the burning of houses, vehicles and checkpoints, and the forced displacement of the population of Pont-Sondé.

“People with babies and young children were also killed. The corpses lie on the ground, they have not yet been recovered by their relatives,” Rnddh denounced.

The authorities, unable to restore peace

The Pont-Sondé massacre adds to the thousands of victims of acts of violence against people and property perpetrated by armed people, who have enjoyed impunity for several years, the NGO laments in a document.

“The new state authorities put in place by the international community promised to restore order and security in the country,” however, “nothing has changed since they came to power.”

“They are content to empty the coffers of the State by granting themselves all kinds of advantages, while they let the population manage with the armed men,” he says, while assuring that “nothing is being done to regain control of the areas occupied by members of the armed organizations, disarm them, arrest them, try and condemn them in proportion to the acts of which they are accused.”

The Rnddh recommends that authorities actively search for armed members of the Gran Grif base, run by Luckson Elan.

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It also calls for psychological and financial assistance programs to be launched for the entire population of Pont-Sondé, in particular the one that is currently in the public square Philippe Guerrier, very shocked by the attack and who could not take anything with him when he was fleeing the attack of the gang members.

International

Mexican Navy Ships Deliver Third Shipment of Humanitarian Aid to Cuba

Two logistics support vessels from the Mexican Navy — the ARM Papaloapan and the ARM Huasteco — docked again on Friday in the bay of Havana carrying a third shipment of humanitarian aid for Cuba.

The vessels had previously arrived on the Caribbean island on February 28 with a second cargo that included 1,200 tons of food, sent to help alleviate the country’s ongoing crisis, which has worsened following the U.S. oil restrictions affecting fuel supplies to the island.

Cuba’s deputy foreign minister Josefina Vidal confirmed the new shipment in a social media post.

“Two ships carrying a third shipment of aid from the Government and the people of Mexico for the Cuban people are now arriving at the port of Havana. Thank you Mexico for your solidarity with Cuba,” she wrote.

Previous aid shipments

During the second shipment, the Papaloapan transported 1,078 tons of beans and powdered milk, while the Huastecocarried 92 tons of beans and 23 tons of assorted food products collected by social organizations with support from the government of Mexico City.

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In recent months, Mexico has become the largest provider of humanitarian aid to Cuba, sending around 2,000 tons of supplies, mostly staple foods and hygiene products, in the two shipments prior to Friday’s delivery.

The first shipment alone included 814 tons of food.

Cuba praises Mexico’s support

Hours before the ships arrived, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel highlighted Mexico’s support during a televised appearance, describing the country as “a friendly and brotherly nation that has shown tremendous solidarity,”particularly praising Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Díaz-Canel also addressed reports suggesting that Mexican donations were being resold in state-run stores, dismissing them as a “disinformation campaign” promoted by right-wing groups.

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International

Ecuador Declares 60-Day National Emergency After Deadly Floods and Landslides

Ecuador has declared a 60-day national emergency to address the impact of a severe rainy season that has left 11 people dead and more than 50,000 affected since January, the government’s disaster management authority announced Friday.

Prolonged heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms have caused river overflows and landslides, mainly in the coastal provinces of Guayas, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Los Ríos, Manabí and Santa Elena, as well as in the Andean provinces of Lojaand Chimborazo.

According to the Secretariat for Risk Management of Ecuador, the emergency declaration was issued “due to the level of impact caused nationwide on the population, the road network, infrastructure, and livelihoods.”

“The emergency declaration is aimed at responding to the effects and negative impacts and preventing their further spread,” the agency said in a statement.

International

Trump Pushes for Regime Change in Cuba as Havana Confirms Talks With Washington

U.S. President Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire for political change in Cuba, located just 150 kilometers from the United States. Washington considers the island an “exceptional threat,” citing its close ties with Russia, Chinaand Iran, longtime allies of Havana.

Trump has urged Cuba to “reach a deal” with Washington or face consequences, as the island struggles with a severe energy crisis that has nearly paralyzed its economy after the United States cut oil shipments from Venezuela, its main fuel supplier. The U.S. has also warned other countries against selling fuel to Havana.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed that Cuban officials have recently held talks with representatives of the U.S. government. The statement came during a meeting with senior members of the ruling Communist Party of Cuba and the executive committee of the Council of Ministers, according to footage broadcast on Cuban television.

“These conversations have been aimed at seeking solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences that exist between our two nations,” Díaz-Canel said.

Reports of intermediaries and possible negotiations

According to television images, among those attending the meeting was Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, grandson of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro. Although he holds no official government position, U.S. media have identified him as a possible interlocutor with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in what have been described as secret discussions between Washington and Havana.

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For some Cubans, any potential agreement with Washington is viewed pragmatically. “As long as it benefits us, we can reach an agreement — but on our terms,” said Sergio Guerra, a 55-year-old agricultural vendor, speaking to AFP.

Díaz-Canel’s remarks confirm earlier statements by Trump, who indicated in January that his administration had already begun contacts with senior Cuban officials.

Mexico calls for diplomacy

Meanwhile, Mexico welcomed the possibility of dialogue after recently sending more than 2,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba to help mitigate the crisis.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her country would always promote peace and diplomatic dialogue, particularly in response to what she described as the long-standing injustice of the U.S. embargo on the Cuban people.