Haiti’s top security officer kidnapped by armed men

Armed men in Haiti seized James Boyard, the chief of staff to the Defence Minister and inspector‑general of the country’s police, on Thursday in Port‑au‑Prince. This is the highest‑ranking security official to be abducted in recent years.

The kidnapping was confirmed by the Associated Press and the New York Times, which also reported that Boyard’s wife and six‑year‑old daughter were taken. A ransom has reportedly been demanded.

Boyard is a respected security expert tasked with helping rebuild Haiti’s armed forces and works under Defence Minister Mario Andrésol, who was appointed in March.

Diego Da Rin, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, warned that kidnappings are rising in once‑safe zones of Port‑au‑Prince, targeting public officials and individuals with dual nationalities. He suggested the motive could be higher ransoms or discouraging authorities from confronting gang‑controlled areas.

Gang violence has plagued Haiti for years. The multinational police force dispatched to quell it struggles to penetrate areas under gang control. This year alone, UN figures show 2,310 deaths, 1,106 injuries and 99 kidnappings, while the United Nations Migration Agency counts nearly 1.5 million people displaced.