Approximately two weeks ago, a missionary group consisting of 17 individuals was kidnapped in Port-au-Prince by the Haitian gang 400 Mawozo. The kidnapped missionary group consists of 16 Americans and one Canadian, with five identified as children.
Five of the abducted individuals were a family, one adult and four children, from West Michigan, confirmed the Hart Dunkard Brethren Church, in which the family were members of.
The group was heading to an orphanage when they were abducted. Now, the gang is demanding a ransom of $17 million, $1 million for each hostage, or the death of the hostages if their demands are not met.
The Missionary group, Christian Aid Ministries, is an Ohio-based group founded by Amish and Mennonites. Notably, Christian Aid Ministries also has a long history of working in the Caribbean to deliver items such as food, clothing, and medicines to orphans and Christian families.
This is not the first time that the 400 Mawozo gang has kidnapped foreign nationals.
In the past, there are accounts of at least 119 individuals kidnapped by the gang and according to the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights in Port-au-Prince, the gang was responsible for approximately 80% of abductions reported between June and September of this year.
The rise of gang violence and abductions is not the only signs of unrest the island nation is facing.
In early July, the country dealt with the assassination of President Jovenel Moise and shortly after an earthquake of 7.2 magnitude hit the country. Additionally, there have been growing concerns over a severe shortage of fuel, countrywide strike of schools, businesses, and public transportation, as well a lack of government.
After the announcement of the missionary group abducted in Haiti, several American families have penned an open letter to President Biden urging for further assistance of 26 other American hostages and wrongfully detained held abroad.
“Every day we wonder how much longer our loved ones must endure their captivity, not knowing when they will return home, and not being able to fully understand the efforts the United States government is undertaking to secure their freedom,” states the open letter.
The letter also states the families’ frustration towards the Biden administration.
“We have not been able to meet with you or even with your National Security Advisor to discuss our loved ones' captivity, which leads us to believe that your administration is not prioritizing negotiations and other methods to secure their release,” the letter continues. “When we do meet with other officials we feel we are being kept in the dark about what the U.S. government intends to do to free our loved ones.”
They conclude their open letter to Biden by reminding him that it is the U.S. government’s responsibility to bring the hostages and wrongfully detained home because they are American citizens.
The White House recently addressed the hostage situation in Haiti.
“The main thrust of our effort thus far has been to deploy a significant number of law enforcement specialists and hostage recovery specialists to work closely with the ministry, the families, and the Haitian government to try to coordinate and organize a recovery,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Thursday’s press briefing.
“We are looking at every possible option for how to go about doing that,” Sullivan said. “And I will be sensitive to what is obviously a delicate situation – not say more here, other than we have put the assets and resources in play that we believe can help bring this to a successful conclusion.”
