The president of the Interim Municipal Council of the commune of Marchand-Dessalines, Dunord Siléus, has officially submitted his resignation in a letter addressed to the General Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities (DG-MICT), dated April 6, 2026.
This decision comes amid an alarming deterioration of the security situation in the commune and across the Artibonite department.
In his letter, the outgoing mayor refers to a series of violent events that have deeply destabilized the city of Dessalines and surrounding communes. He notably recalls the July 17, 2025 attack that led to the burning of the Dessalines police station by the armed group Kokorat San Ras. This is compounded by recent attacks carried out by gangs Gran Grif and Kokorat San Ras, particularly during the night of March 28 to 29, 2026, in Jean-Denis, as well as between March 30 and April 5 in the 3rd section of Ogé. These acts of violence resulted in looting, arson, and loss of life.
Dunord Siléus also denounces what he describes as “contempt from the central State” in response to repeated appeals from local authorities. He points to the lack of concrete action to restore security and allow the population to live under acceptable conditions. In his correspondence, he goes as far as to describe a “complicit silence” from the Haitian government despite the population’s cries for help.
Just days before his resignation, on April 7, 2026, during multiple media appearances across the country, the mayor had already expressed frustration over the authorities’ inaction. He described the situation as “disastrous,” particularly citing violence in areas such as Pont-Joux and downtown Dessalines. At that time, he had issued an eight-day ultimatum to the government, demanding concrete measures to allow displaced residents to return home.
In his statements, Siléus strongly criticized the passivity of both the government and the Haitian National Police (PNH), accusing them of ignoring the growing influence of armed groups in the department. Meanwhile, the population continues to bear the brunt of the violence, living under constant threat.
Faced with what he considers an untenable situation, Dunord Siléus said he chose to step down from his position, while thanking authorities for the trust placed in him during his tenure. For now, the city of Dessalines is left with virtually no effective municipal authority, pending the installation of a new commission.
This resignation once again highlights the scale of the security crisis affecting the Artibonite department and raises serious concerns about the ability of authorities to restore order and protect citizens. These concerns are further reinforced by the recent attack by the Kokorat San Ras gang in the locality of Kapenyen, where several homes were set on fire and multiple people were injured by gunfire.
