Haiti gang has shown US proof of life for kidnapped missionaries, official says

The Haitian gang that kidnapped 17 American and Canadian missionaries has shown the U.S. proof that the missionaries are still alive, a senior Biden administration official said. 

The official would not give details about the proof or the condition of the missionaries, Reuters reported.

“Due to operational and security considerations, we cannot go into details at this time,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill.

The proof of life comes after the reported leader of the 400 Mawozo gang, Wilson Joseph, said in a video in October that the hostages would be killed if the gang’s demands were not met. 

The kidnapped missionaries are from Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Ontario, Canada; 16 are American.

“I swear that if I don’t get what I want, I prefer to kill the Americans. I’ll put a bullet in each of their heads,” Joseph said in the video.

The gang is demanding $1 million for each missionary that they captured in return for their safe release. 

The gang kidnapped the missionaries after they left an orphanage and were on their way to the airport. 

Christian Aid Ministries, the organization that was in charge of the group of missionaries, has asked people to pray for the hostages, kidnappers and governments involved in the situation. 

The Hill has reached out to the FBI for comment.