In the wrong place at the wrong time, or targets of an armed group?
This Sunday, seven Catholic religious were kidnapped in Haiti, near the capital Port-au-Prince.
The country is faced with the growing influence of gangs on its territory.
What happened ?
On Sunday, seven Catholic religious were kidnapped near the capital Port-au-Prince, while they "were on their way to the installation of a new priest".
The group includes a nun and four Haitian priests, as well as two French, a nun and a priest.
The Haitian Conference of Religious (CHR) later said in a statement that three other people, relatives of another priest who were not among those kidnapped, were also kidnapped.
Who are the kidnapped religious?
"There are old people, a lady about 80 years old, two diabetic priests," Father Jean-Marie Rosemond Joseph, member of the Society of Priests of Saint-Jacques, to which belongs the. one of the kidnapped French, interviewed by Franceinfo.
According to local media Le Nouvelliste, the French kidnapped would be a nun from the community of the Sisters of Providence of Pommeraye (Maine-et-Loire), Agnès Bordeau, and a priest from Brittany, Michel Briand.
Information confirmed to the Parisian.
“Five priests were kidnapped, four from the society of priests of Saint-Jacques, including Michel Briand.
We know that the steps are underway to obtain their release ”, assures Father Georgino Rameau, secretary general of the Society of priests of Saint-Jacques.
In 2010, the weekly La Vie devoted a portrait to this “priest of the slums”.
This Breton priest had then put his bags in Haiti for 25 years.
“Haitian among Haitians, Michel Briand knows better than anyone the soul of these people with whom he has chosen to link his destiny.
He knows the wounds of history, slavery, the memory of which still lives in people's minds.
Son of a farmer, this former student of Fine Arts in Rennes contracted the virus of the mission by coming here, 30 years ago, as a cooperant, ”wrote the weekly about him.
Contacted by Le Parisien, the Conference of Bishops of France, did not have, this Monday morning, additional information on the identity of the abducted religious.
“The Conference of Bishops of France and the Conference of Men and Women Religious of France express their very deep concern following the kidnapping of seven people in Haiti, including a nun and a French religious priest.
The great poverty of this country, allied to political disputes, has increased insecurity, which has already been very pervasive for many years, ”she said in a press release.
Who are the kidnappers?
The police suspect an armed gang active in the area, dubbed “400 Mawozo”, to be at the origin of this kidnapping, according to a source in its ranks.
“It's a gang that is on the side of Croix-des-Bouquets, which has been operating in the country for a long time.
They did a lot of harm, they kidnapped people, stole cars, ”deplores Father Jean-Marie Rosemond Joseph.
According to several sources, the kidnappers are demanding a million dollars in ransom.
Kidnappings for ransom have increased in recent months in Port-au-Prince and in the provinces, testifying to the growing hold of armed gangs on Haitian territory.
" This is too much.
The time has come for these inhuman acts to stop, ”Mgr Pierre-André Dumas, Bishop of Miragoâne, contacted on the phone by AFP, responded on Sunday.
"The Church prays and stands in solidarity with all the victims of this villainous act," he added.
What is the situation in the country?
In March, the Haitian executive power declared a state of emergency for one month in certain districts of the capital and a provincial region in order to "restore the authority of the state" in areas controlled by gangs.
The measure is motivated by the actions of armed gangs who "kidnap people for ransom by declaring it openly, stealing and looting public and private property, and openly confronting the public security forces", according to the presidential decree.
Gang violence and political instability in the country have recently led to protests in the streets of the capital.
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On April 3, several hundred women marched in Port-au-Prince to denounce the growing influence of gangs on the territory.
Kidnappings for ransom affect the richest inhabitants indiscriminately, and the majority living below the poverty line.
Haiti, the poorest country on the American continent, has been plunged for several months into a deep political crisis.
