Port-au-Prince, Haiti— Armed gang members ambushed a convoy of Salvadoran peacekeeping personnel in Port-au-Prince on the afternoon of October 20, burning an armored vehicle and leaving four peacekeepers missing in one of the worst attacks on the multinational mission to date.
The patrol, part of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission with a Salvadoran contingent attached for engineering support, was moving through the Bel-Air neighborhood at 1:45 p.m. when gunmen opened fire from rooftops and alleys. The lead vehicle, a fortified Toyota Land Cruiser, was disabled by gunfire, then set alight with fuel. The convoy was cut off. Reuters reported the attackers numbered at least 30, armed with assault rifles and Molotov cocktails.
Four Salvadoran personnel — two military engineers and two police officers — failed to return to base. Their whereabouts are unknown. The remaining four members of the patrol escaped on foot and were recovered by a Haitian National Police rapid response unit two hours later. They suffered minor injuries.
Bel-Air is controlled by the Viv Ansanm coalition, which has vowed to expel foreign forces. The area has been a no-go zone for months, with roads blocked by burned cars and concrete. A Haitian police commander said, "We warned the mission not to enter without heavy support. They went in light. The gangs were waiting. They wanted hostages."
The Multinational Security Support mission, authorized by the UN Security Council in 2023, has struggled to stabilize the capital. It fields about 2,500 personnel, far short of pledged numbers, and lacks helicopters and armored transport. Salvadoran troops, about 150 strong, joined in March to provide medical and engineering assistance.
UN spokesman in New York said, "We are deeply concerned about our missing colleagues. Every effort is being made to locate them. This attack underscores the dangerous conditions our personnel face." The Salvadoran government said it is in contact with Haitian authorities and has requested urgent satellite support.
The burned vehicle remained in the street as night fell, its armor plates warped, its tires melted. Locals said gang members filmed the burning truck and circulated video on WhatsApp, claiming they captured foreigners. That claim has not been verified.
Port-au-Prince has seen a sharp escalation in gang violence this month, with more than 200 kidnappings reported. The main port is closed. Fuel deliveries are sporadic.
Search operations were suspended at dusk. No contact has been made with the missing personnel.
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