Seven Haitian clergy kidnapped by armed gang | Abroad

Five priests and two nuns were kidnapped Sunday morning in Croix-des-Bouquets, a congregation northeast of the capital Port-au-Prince. At the time, the clergy was preparing to appoint a new parish priest.

The kidnappers would demand a ransom of one million dollars in exchange for their release, according to a former Catholic Church.

According to local authorities, an armed gang called “400 Mawozo” is behind the kidnappings. This gang is regularly involved in kidnappings on the island.

Haiti has been agitated for a long time. Kidnappings for ransom in Port-au-Prince and other provinces have increased in recent months, reflecting the growing influence of armed gangs.

In March, the Caribbean island government declared a one-month state of emergency to restore state authority in areas where gangs operate. The measure was introduced due to actions by armed gangs “kidnapping people for ransom, speaking publicly, stealing and looting public and private property, and openly defying public security forces,” said a presidential decree on the matter. ’emergency state.