Dangerous ‘400 Mawozo’ Gang Suspected of Kidnapping U.S. Missionaries in Haiti
by Andrea Hillman
October 18, 2021
Seventeen Christian missionaries were kidnapped in Haiti on Saturday, Oct 16. Officials believe the notorious “400 Mawozo” gang is responsible for the abduction of the missing sixteen American citizens and one Canadian citizen. This dangerous gang was also responsible for kidnapping five priests and two nuns in April of 2021.
The five men, seven women, and five children were serving the poor and disadvantaged in Haiti through Christian Aid Ministries, headquartered in Berlin, Ohio. They were forcibly taken in the brazen attack after leaving a nearby orphanage. The crime continues to stun many Christians and nations around the world.
Christian Aid Ministries has stated authorities in Haiti and the United States are currently offering assistance. They request earnest prayers of fellow believers for the safe return of their abducted missionaries and remind us “’The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much’ (James 5:10).”
The 40-year-old ministry consists of Amish, Mennonite, and conservative Anabaptist denominations. According to their website, the non-profit organization was established in 1981 and does have tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status. They are also accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and seek to accomplish several goals, including sharing the Gospel, delivering medical care, and helping victims of crisis with basic necessities.
Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, has suffered an explosion of crime over the past year, including the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in his home on July 7. According to the U.S. Department of State, significant human rights issues continue to plague the country, including “reports of unlawful and arbitrary killings by gangs allegedly supported and protected by unnamed officials….”
A Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory is currently in effect for U.S. citizens traveling to Haiti due to “kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and COVID-19.” Spokespersons for the U.S. Department of State nor Christian Aid Ministries could be reached for further comment at this time.
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Andrea Hillman is a contributing writer and journalist for Blue Ridge 
Christian News, as well as creator and news aggregator for The Christian Persecution Report. She enjoys a wide variety of artistic endeavors, world travel, and has recently discovered she has a green thumb. You can read more of her work here. Please reach out to her at thechristianpersecutionreport@gmail.com, at The Christian Persecution Report page on Facebook, or on LinkedIn.
