Violence in Haiti: three out of eight Turkish citizens kidnapped by a gang freed

This was decided by the powerful gang that on May 8 hijacked a bus with twelve people traveling from the Dominican Republic to Haiti free this weekend three of the eight citizens of Turkish origin who were holding prisoners. These are women who “have had health problems”.

This was reported to AFP by Michaelle Durandis, representative of the Metro bus company. They were “released this weekend because.” they were sick“, accurate.

The Turks, aged 20 to 26, are members of an educational and religious association that has been in the country since 2019 that offers Muslim language and education courses, according to their website.

According to statements previously released by the honorary consul of Turkey in Haiti, Hugues Josue, members of that group “got off the bus they were traveling on” during the kidnapping and were able to “contact their organization”.

The bus left the Dominican capital, Santo Domingo, headed for Port-au-Prince, but it was ddiverted from its Haiti route by one of the most powerful gangs in the countryshortly after crossing the border, with twelve people on board, including eight Turks, three Haitians and one Dominican.

According to Michaelle Durandis, exponents of the Metro bus company, the interception took place east of the Haitian capital, between the towns of Croix des Bouquets and Ganthier.

The two employees of the transport company, a Haitian and the Dominican driver, were released less than a week after the bus stopped.

The two Haitian passengers were also released against an unknown ransom, said Durandis, who did not specify the date of their release.

“The kidnappers they still have the five Turkish men and are still in possession of the company bus“, said the spokesperson.

Haitian gangs hit the country hard: at least 200 kidnappings were registered by the UN in May, especially in Port-au-Prince. From that international organization, in fact, they claimed to feel “deep concern about the rapid deterioration of security” in that city.

One of the most powerful criminal groups is “400 Mawozo”, which has been controlling the area where Turkish citizens were kidnapped for several years.

With information from AFP.