Armed Men In Haiti's Capital Seize A Top Security Official

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Armed men successful Haiti person kidnapped James Boyard, Cabinet head of nan Defense Ministry and a highly respected information master who besides serves arsenic inspector wide of Haiti’s police, a personification pinch knowledge of nan business said Saturday.

He is nan highest-ranking charismatic to beryllium kidnapped successful nan gang-racked Caribbean federation successful caller years.

A personification pinch knowledge of nan business who was not authorized to speak publically astir nan lawsuit confirmed nan kidnapping to nan Associated Press connected Saturday.

Local media reported that Boyard was seized Thursday successful Bourdon, 1 of nan fewer areas successful Port-au-Prince that is considered comparatively safe. An estimated 70% of nan superior is controlled by a powerful pack conjugation known arsenic Viv Ansanm, which nan U.S. designated arsenic a overseas violent statement successful May 2025.

Boyard, who is besides a governmental scientist, was tasked pinch helping rebuild Haiti’s equipped forces and has helped measure Haiti’s National Police to instrumentality reforms.

It was not clear who kidnapped him aliases whether a ransom has been requested.

“A personification of this rank intelligibly has a reasonably important information detail,” said Diego Da Rin, an expert pinch nan International Crisis Group.

He said nan abduction of Boyard perchance suggests nan kidnapping was planned pinch awesome item and mightiness person depended connected nan collaboration of personification adjacent to his information detail.

Da Rin said kidnappings are progressively occurring successful areas of Port-au-Prince erstwhile considered safe, pinch pack members sometimes donning constabulary uniforms and stopping drivers arsenic portion of clone operations.

He noted that gangs person been kidnapping group pinch double nationalities and targeting nationalist officials. That could mean they are seeking higher ransoms and perchance trying to dissuade authorities from attacking definite gang-controlled territories wherever kidnapping victims are being held, Da Rin said.

Police precocious person attacked Village de Dieu, which is controlled by nan 5 Segond gang, led by Johnson Andre. Best known arsenic “Izo,” he is considered 1 of Haiti’s astir powerful pack leaders.

Da Rin noted that gangs person been taking immoderate kidnapping victims to Village de Dieu.

High-profile kidnappings successful caller years person targeted group including Haitian journalists and world missionaries. At slightest 267 group were reported kidnapped from December to February, astir of them men, according to a United Nations report. In 2025, 1,268 kidnappings were reported, a astir 40% driblet from nan 2,058 kidnapping reported nan erstwhile year, nan study stated.

Coto writes for nan Associated Press.