PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Armed men have kidnapped a senior Haitian government and police official in the capital, marking one of the highest-profile abductions in the country in recent years, according to media reports and a person familiar with the case.
James Boyard, cabinet director at Haiti’s Defense Ministry and inspector general of the Haitian National Police, was seized on Thursday in the Bourdon district of Port-au-Prince, local media reported. A person with knowledge of the situation, who was not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed the abduction on Saturday to The Associated Press.
Details surrounding the kidnapping remain unclear. Authorities have not publicly identified the perpetrators, and it was not immediately known whether a ransom demand had been made. Haitian officials had not issued a detailed public statement on efforts to secure Boyard’s release as of Saturday.
Boyard is widely regarded as a security specialist and has played a role in efforts to reform Haiti’s police force and rebuild the country’s armed forces. His abduction comes as Haiti continues to face a prolonged security crisis driven by heavily armed gangs that control large sections of Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas.
According to estimates cited by international observers, a gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm controls much of the capital. The United States designated the group a foreign terrorist organization in 2025.
Diego Da Rin, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, said the kidnapping raised questions about how the operation was carried out despite the official’s security arrangements.
“A person of this rank clearly has a fairly important security detail,” Da Rin told The Associated Press.
The abduction also highlights the continued threat of kidnappings in Haiti. A United Nations report cited by the Associated Press said more than 1,200 kidnappings were recorded in Haiti during 2025, although that represented a decline from the previous year. The report also documented hundreds of kidnappings during the opening months of 2026.
The seizure of Boyard occurred as Haitian authorities and international partners continue efforts to restore security amid escalating gang violence. Recent clashes and attacks have displaced thousands of residents and disrupted public services in parts of the capital, according to humanitarian organizations and international officials.
As of Sunday, Boyard’s whereabouts were unknown. Haitian authorities had not announced any arrests, and no group had publicly claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
