Haitian Journalist Roger Claudy Israël Freed After Abduction by Armed Gang

On March 31, 2025, Haitian journalist Roger Claudy Israël and his brother Marco were abducted in Mirebalais during a violent offensive by the armed gang coalition Viv Ansanm. Israël, founder of local radio station RC FM and former correspondent for Radio Ginen, was targeted amid escalating violence against journalists in the region.

A video released by the gang showed the brothers handcuffed and threatened with execution, highlighting the severe risks faced by media professionals in Haiti. The abduction prompted urgent calls for their release from organizations including Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and SOS Journalistes.

After more than two weeks in captivity, the brothers were released on April 17, 2025. Their freedom was secured following negotiations involving SOS Journalistes and leaders of the Viv Ansanm coalition, including Jimmy Chérisier, known as “Barbecue,” and Wilson Joseph, alias “Lanmò san jou,” head of the 400 Mawozo gang.

Israël’s abduction is part of a broader pattern of violence against journalists in Haiti, where armed groups have increasingly targeted media outlets and personnel. In March 2025, the premises of Radio Télévision Caraïbes (RTVC) in Port-au-Prince were set on fire, and numerous reporters have been attacked or forced into hiding amid the collapse of state institutions.

The international community continues to call for concrete measures to protect journalists and restore press freedom in Haiti. RSF emphasized the need for urgent action to ensure the safety of media workers operating in such a perilous environment.

While the release of Roger Claudy Israël and his brother offers a moment of relief, the ongoing threats to journalists in Haiti underscore the critical need for sustained efforts to safeguard press freedom and the lives of those who report the truth