Haiti News Update
High-Ranking Haitian Official Kidnapped in Port-au-Prince
Armed individuals abducted James Boyard, cabinet director of Haiti's Defense Ministry and inspector general of the national police, on Thursday in the Bourdon district of Port-au-Prince. The incident was confirmed on Saturday by a source with knowledge of the situation.
Boyard is among the highest-ranking officials to be kidnapped in Haiti in recent years.
Incident Details
- Location: The abduction occurred in Bourdon, a neighborhood in Port-au-Prince previously considered relatively safe.
- The Victim: James Boyard is a security expert and political scientist who has been involved in rebuilding Haiti's armed forces and assessing police reforms.
- Perpetrators: It remains unclear who carried out the abduction.
- Demands: No information has been released regarding a ransom demand.
Expert Observations
Diego Da Rin of the International Crisis Group stated that the abduction suggests detailed planning and possible insider collaboration.
Da Rin observed that kidnappings are increasingly occurring in areas once considered safe, with gangs sometimes using police uniforms to conduct fake operations. He also noted that gangs are targeting individuals with dual nationality and public officials, potentially to demand higher ransoms or to deter authorities from attacking gang-controlled areas.
Broader Context
An estimated 70% of Port-au-Prince is under the control of the gang coalition Viv Ansanm, which has been designated by the U.S. government as a foreign terrorist organization.
Kidnappings remain frequent in Haiti. According to a UN report:
- At least 267 people were reported kidnapped between December 2025 and February 2026.
- During the full year of 2025, 1,268 kidnappings were reported, representing a nearly 40% decrease from the 2,058 reported in the previous year.