Haitian authorities arrested former senator Nenel Cassy on Saturday in Pétionville, a prominent district of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Cassy faces serious charges of conspiring against the state and financing criminal organizations, a move announced by Haiti’s National Police through a Facebook post. The arrest is notable amid the country’s ongoing struggle with rampant gang violence. Photographs released by the police show Ca
ssy in handcuffs, surrounded by heavily armed officers wearing ski masks, highlighting the operation’s seriousness.
Cassy was designated a corrupt actor by the U.S. State Department in 2023. He is accused of supporting gang members involved in deadly attacks in Kenscoff, a suburb located approximately six miles from Port-au-Prince. Known as a refuge for Haiti’s elite, Kenscoff had largely avoided the gang violence that has ravaged the capital—unt
il February, when multiple attacks linked to gangs allegedly backed by Cassy left dozens dead. These incidents marked a bold attempt by criminal groups to expand their control.
The arrest coincides with a surge in violence in Kenscoff. Just days later, on Sunday, nine workers—including one foreign citizen—were kidnapped from the Sainte Hélène orphanage, operated by the humanitarian group Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH). The assault occurred around 2 a.m. and targeted a facility caring for over 240 vulnerable children. NPH confirmed that seven staff members and one youth were abducted, while the identity and nationality of the foreign hostage remain undisclosed for security reasons. In response, the organization temporarily closed its two hospitals in Haiti until the safe release of the hostages. Kenscoff’s mayor, Massillon Jean, told The Associated Press that the kidnappings underscore the increasing boldness of armed groups in the area.
The arrest of Cassy, once a powerful political figure, sheds light on the deep and
complex connections between political influence and criminal networks in Haiti. As the country watches closely, the key question remains whether this high-profile arrest will lead to greater accountability or provoke retaliatory violence from t
he gangs Cassy allegedly supported.
