Two Haitian journalists kidnapped by armed gangs in downtown Port-au-Prince

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Two Haitian journalists were kidnapped Friday in downtown Port-au-Prince by armed members of the gang coalition Viv Ansanm, their employers said. This double abduction, along with an attack at a veteran journalist’s residence a day earlier, raises new concerns about the safety of media workers in Haiti— particularly in the capital.

The victims, Osnel Espérance of Radio Uni FM and Junior Célestin of Radio Television Megastar, were abducted while reporting in the lower part of the city.

The gang members involved are believed to be affiliated with the Village de Dieu group led by the FBI-wanted notorious man Johnson “Izo” André, which has been clashing with Haitian National Police units in the area since March 12. Authorities have not released information about the journalists’ condition or possible ransom demands.

“On Friday, journalists Osnel Espérance (Uni FM) and Junior Célestin (Megastar) were captured by armed members of Viv Ansanm in Port-au-Prince while carrying out their reporting duties in the field. We demand their immediate release,” Radio Uni FM wrote on X.

The kidnapping comes amid intensified police operations in several neighborhoods of downtown Port-au-Prince, including Bel-Air, Grand-Rue, Rue Joseph Janvier and Bicentenaire, areas where gangs maintain a strong presence.

Police units — supported by a task force from the Prime Minister’s Office — have been deployed as part of the offensive, which has included the use of explosive drones against gang positions.

The clashes have also resulted in civilian casualties. At least six civilians were killed, including two schoolgirls and their father, on Rue Chareron in downtown Port-au-Prince on Wednesday.

Unverified information circulating on social media suggests gang members may have accused the journalists of acting as police informants after seeing them filming in the area. Police have not publicly commented on the kidnapping, which reportedly occurred near the city soccer stadium ( Stade Sylvio Cator) and the main cemetery — locations long under gang influence.

The abduction occurred one day after another attack targeting a prominent Haitian journalist.

On Thursday night, armed men attempted to break into the home of Marvel Dandin, director of Radio Kiskeya, in the Soisson neighborhood of Thomassin, in the Pétion-Ville district.

According to Dandin, about seven men armed with 9 mm pistols tried to force their way into his apartment, attempting to break through the door and a wall to reach his bedroom before opening fire toward the residence.

Dandin said the attackers appeared to know the house and its occupants, suggesting the assault may have been targeted.

“I won’t pretend that the situation left me unscathed; it had a major impact, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone,” the journalist said. “It’s humanly difficult to endure.”

The incidents highlight the growing dangers faced by journalists in Haiti, where insecurity has forced many reporters to work under extreme conditions, navigating gang-controlled neighborhoods and increasing threats.

According to Reporters Without Borders, journalism in Haiti has faced an unprecedented security crisis since 2022, when at least six journalists were killed in connection with their work.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also reported that at least six journalists were kidnapped by gangs in 2023, with additional cases reported in 2024, including the abduction of reporter Valéry Pierre in the Artibonite region.

“Judicial authorities must investigate these incidents. Haiti is one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists,” CPJ said. The organization has documented nine journalists killed since 2021, six of them in direct connection with their reporting.

As insecurity deepens, other press freedom advocates—joining CPJ’s voice—are calling for urgent measures to protect journalists and ensure the public’s right to information.

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