Haiti (BERITAPOLTIK.ONLINE) – In recent days, Haiti has witnessed a disturbing surge in violence, with increasingly powerful gangs launching brazen attacks on prisons and the capital’s airport. This has prompted widespread closures of businesses and schools, while hundreds of residents have sought refuge elsewhere.
According to the United Nations (UN), these heavily armed gangs now control a staggering 80% of the capital, eclipsing the authority of Haiti’s already fragile government.
The recent spate of violence coincided on Thrusday (29/02/2024) with Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s trip to Kenya, where he sought support for a UN-backed police force to confront the escalating threat posed by these gangs.
Frantz Elbé, director of the National Police, characterized the situation as a city at war, as heavy gunfire reverberates through the capital, overwhelming government forces.
“The city center was at war,” he said.
Responding to the crisis, the government has implemented a three-day nightly curfew starting Monday (04/02/2024), aiming to curb the violence that has rendered parts of the capital unsafe for residents.
The roots of this surge in violence lie partly in the political instability following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021 and the subsequent delay in holding parliamentary and general elections. Prime Minister Henry’s commitment to holding elections by mid-2025 has further inflamed tensions.
Gunmen staged a daring assault on Saturday, March 2, 2024, overpowering both the primary penitentiary in the capital of Port-au-Prince and a neighboring prison. The coordinated raid resulted in the liberation of over 4,700 inmates and led to multiple casualties.
As of Monday, March 4, 2024, the whereabouts of Prime Minister Henry remained undisclosed. When questioned about the safety of his return to Haiti during his visit to Kenya, Henry responded with a nonchalant shrug.
In the midst of the chaos, former elite police officer Jimmy Chérizier, known as “Barbecue,” has emerged as a key figure, openly declaring his intent to capture government officials.
Four police officers were killed when their stations came under siege.
Barbecue said last summer that he would fight any international armed force if they committed abuses, and he urged Haitians to mobilize against the government.
Other gang leaders, including Johnson André, or “Izo,” have also been implicated in recent attacks.
The gangs’ increasing influence can be attributed to various factors, including access to smuggled firearms and ransom payments from kidnappings. As the state’s authority weakens, the gangs have seized upon the opportunity to expand their control.
To confront this dire situation, Finance Minister Patrick Boivert, serving as acting prime minister, has declared a state of emergency and imposed a nightly curfew. Law enforcement has been directed to use all available means to enforce the curfew and apprehend offenders, in a bid to restore order amidst the chaos. As Boivert emphasized, “Police were ordered to use all legal means at their disposal to enforce the curfew and apprehend all offenders.”
