Haitian gang leader threatens to kill American missionaries

A Haitian gang leader has threatened to kill all American missionaries if his gang’s demands are not met.

The 400 Mawozo are behind the abduction of 17 US Christian missionaries in Haiti last Saturday. The missionaries were there to help the Haitian people affected by the earthquake and political turmoil.

They were leaving an orphanage and were headed back to Port-au-Prince when the armed gang kidnapped them. The group includes 16 US citizens and one Canadian, it also includes women and children.

In a video message posted on YouTube and circulating online, a seemingly young man is seen swearing that he will “put a bullet in the heads of these Americans.”

I swear by THUNDER that if I don’t get what I’m asking for, [then] I will put a bullet in the heads of these Americans.

He threatened.

The gang had demanded a $17m ransom for the release of all the missionaries. That’s a million dollars per person and child.

“You guys make me cry, I cry water, but I am going to make you guys cry blood,” he concluded while having a gold chain around his neck.

The 400 Mawozo is known 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 unaware whether the ransom was paid.

The FBI had landed in Port-au-Prince on Monday. It is working actively with Haitian authorities in order to get the victims released.

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.