Haitian gang frees remaining US missionaries

Haitian gang 400 Mawozo has released the remaining missionaries it had held captive and threatened to kill since October.

The Christian missionaries were mostly from the US, with only one being from Canada. It was mostly made of women and children who were abducted while returning from an orphanage just outside Port-au-Prince.

Christian Aid Ministries, an Ohio-based Church organization, confirmed the news on their website.

About five of the hostages were already released since a few weeks back. Two were released in November and another three in early December.

Who were the missionaries?

The Christian missionaries were in Haiti to help those suffering from poverty inflicted by the devastating earthquake and rising political turmoil.

The group of 17 included 16 Americans and one Canadian. 12 were adults – 7 being women.

The 400 Mawozo demanded a ransom of a million dollars for each captive. Their leader had threatened to “put a bullet in the heads of these Americans” shortly after their abduction.

The Christian Aid Ministries did not disclose the identities of the missionaries, nor revealed whether any ransom amount was paid to the gang.

Who are the 400 Mawozo?

The 400 Mawozo is a Haitian gang notorious for its abductions of international aid workers. It had kidnapped the Catholic clergy back in April and asked for a million dollars for their release. We are still not sure if the ransom was paid.

The 400 Mawozo is one of the many gangs in Haiti who have control of various regions.

Since the Haitian government has lost the trust of the people, it has been isolated to the capital city of the country where the gangs are slowly taking control.

Going outside the capital is considered a death sentence for any government official. Gangs are taking advantage of the situation and end up making money through their illegal activities and kidnappings of foreign aid workers there to help those in need.

The Haiti Paradox

Haiti is infamous for having one of the World’s highest abduction rates. Since their President’s assassination the gangs have gained strength and their no-go areas are now well established.

The Haitian authorities that have no control over the outer districts are now trapped inside the major cities where they are slowly losing grip because of the political instability.

Many Haitians have also urged the US to send in troops to wipe out the gangs. Their Prime Minister has lost public support after he was accused of getting the President assassinated. An allegation which he denies.

Haitian Prime Minister Henry fired the country’s chief public prosecutor. Many are calling it an attempt to get away with the murder as the public prosecutor had called on Henry to be charged.

Haitians are being provided with humanitarian aid by countries and many non-profit organizations throughout the World.

The safety of aid workers has raised a lot of eyebrows on the government’s control over the country. If even aid workers are unsafe then not only is the government corrupt but also nonexistent.

The US has learned that if the people are unwilling to bring change then it can do nothing to help. The Haitians calling for the US to send troops are themselves doing nothing to bring change. Yet when the US would leave after establishing a new form of government, they would only curse it.

October 22, 2021 – The Conservative.