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On August 26, an evangelical pastor and his followers attempted to attack a gang in the north of Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, armed with sticks and machetes. The gang retaliated with firearms, killing at least 21 people. What exactly happened that day? Why did ordinary churchgoers go to confront an armed gang? The FRANCE 24 Observers team investigated in this special program: “Haiti: Faith against bullets”.
“We’re at war! We’re going to attack them!” On August 26, Marcorel Zidor, also known as Pastor Marco, rallied his followers at the Piscine de Bethesda evangelical church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. This church has a significant platform with a Facebook following of more than 110,000 people. Pastor Marco’s aim was to confront the “Taliban” gang, led by an individual known as Jeff, operating in the Canaan district north of the capital.
Gangs hold sway over a major portion of Port-au-Prince, and the city’s residents bear the brunt of their violence, enduring massacres, rapes and kidnappings for ransom. At least 2,439 fatalities and 951 abductions were recorded between January 1 and August 15, according to the UN.
After mass on August 26, Pastor Marco and his congregation head for Canaan. Some are armed with sticks and machetes. On their way, they pass the police station in the Bon Repos district: it’s just one kilometre from Canaan, but the police let them continue on their way.
In Canaan, some of the congregation throw stones. The gang retaliates by shooting at them: it’s a bloodbath….
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