Overview:
Three hostages, including Stéphanie Paultre, director of Haiti’s National Office of Partnership in Education and two others abducted with her, were released over the weekend after nearly two months in captivity, according to a local political activist. Lawyer Caleb Jean-Baptiste, who was kidnapped in the same incident, remains held by the Kokorat San Ras gang.
GONAÏVES — Stéphanie Paultre, director of Haiti’s National Office of Partnership in Education (ONAPE), and two other people abducted in the Artibone Department with her by the Kokorat San Ras gang were reportedly released Nov. 7 after nearly two months in captivity. Lawyer Caleb Jean-Baptiste, who was kidnapped in the same incident, remains captive.
The three were released in Gros-Morne, according to political activist Jacques Délice, who confirmed the news to The Haitian Times. Délice, who is close to Paultre, said the former hostages had left the area and were being escorted to Gonaïves.
“I am unable to confirm the amount paid in ransom for their freedom,” Délice said in a phone interview. “For now, we are escorting the hostages who have left the Gros-Morne area to Gonaïves.”
The Haitian National Police (PNH) had not officially confirmed the release at the time of this writing.
Féquière Casséus, the police spokesperson for the Artibonite Department, told The Haitian Times that he had not received confirmation from police sources and was awaiting information from the hostages’ families.
“No police source has released this information. We are waiting for the family members so that we can inform you about the hostages’ release,” Casséus said.
Haitian lawyer remains in captivity
The reported release comes nearly two months after a series of kidnappings across Haiti on Sept. 6 and 7. Journalist Wesly Renaud Jean was abducted in Delmas 31 on Sept. 6. The following day, Paultre and Jean-Baptiste were kidnapped in the Gros-Morne area while returning from an event in nearby Ennery town marking the start of the 2026-2027 school year. Two police officers assigned to Paultre’s security detail and her driver were also abducted.
Jean-Baptiste, a well-known lawyer, remains in the hands of the Kokorat San Ras gang, according to Délice.
“I don’t know the main reason why the bandits are refusing to release lawyer Caleb Jean-Baptiste,” he said.
Jean-Baptiste’s family has reportedly made repeated ransom payments, but he remains in captivity.
“I am unable to confirm the amount paid in ransom for their freedom. For now, we are escorting the hostages who have left the Gros-Morne area to Gonaïves.”
Jacques Délice, political activist
The lawyer’s continued captivity has drawn attention following accusations by Wilson “Lanmò San Jou” Joseph, leader of the 400 Mawozo gang. In a video released after the kidnapping, Joseph accused Jean-Baptiste of receiving $120,000 and weapons in connection with efforts to secure the release of Germine “Yonyon” Joly, a former 400 Mawozo leader who was extradited to the United States and convicted of organizing the 2021 kidnapping of 16 U.S. citizens.
Insecurity persists in Artibonite
The kidnapping underscored the dangers of traveling through parts of Artibonite, where armed groups have targeted residents and people using regional roads.
Since early October, the PNH and the United Nations-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) have maintained a presence in the department, conducting repeated raids on gang strongholds, including Gros-Morne and Petite Rivière de l’Artibonite.
Despite those operations, residents continue to face threats from armed groups that control or operate along key routes in the region.
