Haiti senior defense official abducted in Port-au-Prince

A senior Haitian government official, James Boyard, was kidnapped by armed assailants in the capital, Port-au-Prince, on Thursday, marking one of the highest-ranking abductions in the country in recent years. Boyard, who serves as chief of staff for the Defense Ministry and inspector general of the national police, was taken from the Bourdon neighborhood, an area previously considered relatively secure.

According to a person familiar with the case who spoke on Saturday, Boyard was abducted along with his wife and six-year-old daughter, who is a U.S. citizen. Police sources reported that a ransom was demanded, though authorities have not publicly commented on efforts to secure the family's release. While no group has claimed responsibility, investigators reportedly suspect the involvement of a major armed gang leader.

The kidnapping underscores the escalating gang violence that has overwhelmed Haiti since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Armed groups now control an estimated 70% of Port-au-Prince, including major highways and ports, preventing authorities from holding elections and carrying out widespread kidnappings and killings. The powerful Viv Ansanm gang...