In brief
The National Police announced the death of Mathias Saintil after a shootout during a law‑enforcement operation in the capital. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils‑Aime celebrated the killing as a victory against gang dominance. The incident is part of UN‑backed anti‑gang efforts amid Haiti’s enduring violence and political instability.
In a dawn operation on 2 November 2026, Haiti’s National Police (PNH) confirmed that mathias Saintil, the leader of the Boston gang, was neutralised following a firefight in Port‑au‑Prince. The police said he suffered “multiple bullets” and later died in the hospital.
Alix Didier Fils‑Aime, Haiti’s Prime Minister, posted a celebratory message on social media, writing in a blend of French and Haitian Creole, “One less gang leader. The battle to liberate the country from the grip of bandits continues with determination. The gangs won’t be able to sleep!” The post was widely shared by government officials and civilian supporters.
One less gang leader. The battle to liberate the country from the grip of bandits continues with determination. The gangs won’t be able to sleep!
Alix Didier Fils‑Aime
The police operation is part of a series of UN‑backed efforts to curb gang violence that has plagued Haiti since the 2021 assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse. Since that event, no national elections have been held, contributing to a political vacuum in which organised crime expanded into key territories.
According to the United Nations, more than 90 percent of Port‑au‑Prince is now under gang control, including major roadways and maritime ports. The agency lists at least 26 gangs operating in and around the capital, and estimates that half of all gang members are children and teens under 18.
Haiti’s violence has triggered a humanitarian crisis, with approximately 1.4 million people displaced from their homes. The government, international partners and local communities continue to push for enduring security reforms, but the challenge remains immense.
While the death of Mathias Saintil is seen by Haiti’s leadership as a symbolic win, community groups caution that it is only one step in a larger, complex struggle to restore peace and rule of law throughout the island nation.
It remains to be seen how the UN‑backed anti‑gang campaign will evolve after this latest operation, but the event illustrates the continued conflict between state forces and entrenched criminal networks in Haiti’s capital.
