Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Haiti Gang Leader Killed in Slum, Raising Concerns of Increased Violence

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Iskar Andrice, a notorious gang leader in Haiti, who was once a math and physics teacher, has been reported killed in a neighborhood within the sprawling seaside slum that he controlled for several years, according to local media reports.

The death of Andrice, also known as Iscar Andris, has raised concerns that the already rampant gang violence in Haiti could escalate even further in the power vacuum created by his demise.

Andrice held dominion over the Belekou community within the Cite Soleil slum, where he met his fateful end, revealed former mayor Esaïe Beauchard in an interview with Radio Galaxie FM.

Beauchard expressed regret over Andrice’s involvement in gang activities, stating, “It’s regrettable that this guy had to be involved in gang activity, because he’s a very intelligent man.”

The exact date of Andrice’s death remains unclear at this point.

When contacted by The Associated Press, Jean-Frédérique Islain, the current mayor of Cite Soleil, declined to comment on the matter.

A recent U.N. report reveals that Andrice’s gang was implicated in various criminal activities, including murder, robbery, extortion, rape, and the hijacking of goods and trucks. As per the report, he later joined forces with renowned gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, popularly known as Barbecue, to form the “G9 Family and Allies” alliance, which is considered Haiti’s largest and most powerful gang group.

Media interviews granted by Chérizier had to be approved by Andrice, highlighting his significant influence within the gang hierarchy.

In 2015, Andrice, like other gang leaders, established the Siloé Foundation, a social organization aimed at gaining support from the community he controlled and projecting a positive image of himself.

The nonprofit National Human Rights Defense Network in Haiti has accused Andrice and other gang leaders of orchestrating numerous deadly raids on Haitian neighborhoods, specifically targeting innocent civilians.

Furthermore, they have also been held responsible for paralyzing operations at a main fuel terminal in the capital city of Port-au-Prince last year. This act crippled the nation and necessitated Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry to request urgent deployment of a foreign armed force, marking his first such appeal.

It remains to be seen how Andrice’s death will impact the already fragile security situation in Haiti, as fears grow that his demise might lead to an intensified power struggle among rival gangs vying for control over his former stronghold.

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Associated Press reporter Dánica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, contributed to this report.

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