PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CMC)— SOS Journalistes Haiti on Monday called on armed gangs, occupying the town of Mirebalais in the French speaking country, to release a captured journalist.

The journalist, Roger Claudy Israel and his brother Marco Israel, have been held hostage for several days.

The media organisation said that Israel, a former correspondent for Radio Ginen, and owner of RC FM radio, had gone into hiding with his brother, but both had been later spotted, held captive and threatened with death.

It said that the kidnappers have released a video in which they threatened the hostages.

Last Monday, armed men belonging to the criminal group, “Viv ansanm” carried out an attack on the town of Mirebalais, 30 miles northeast of the capital, burning several houses and vehicles and killing several people including two Roman Catholic nuns.

SOS Journalistes said that Christophe Collegue, a former correspondent for the Voice of America (VOA) Creole service, is also missing, while the home of his son, Anderson Collegue, a correspondent for Radio Caraibes, had been destroyed by fire.

SOS Journalistes said it is calling on the relevant authorities to further strengthen the security measures already in place, while also calling on the armed gangs to release the journalist and other hostages.

Criminal gangs have been seeking to overthrow the government ever since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

The United Nations Security Council in 2023 passed a resolution for the Kenya-led MSS mission, aimed at combating gang violence and restoring stability in the country.

Criminal gangs are seeking to take complete control of the capital Port au Prince and have launched several attacks, killing women and children among others.