Unrest in Haiti Escalates as Gangs Torch Police Stations Amid Political Turmoil
Port-au-Prince, Haiti – In a bid to force the removal of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, gangs have intensified their attacks by setting fire to police stations across the capital city. The latest target, the police station in the bustling Salomon market, adds to the escalating violence, as reported by local media.
As the turmoil unfolds, a three-day state of emergency has been extended by a month, further heightening tensions in the crisis-ridden nation. The unrest reached a critical point when Prime Minister Henry, currently attending a regional summit, faced challenges returning home last week. His attempts were thwarted by the closure of the international airport, defended by soldiers repelling gunmen seeking to seize control.
Unable to land in Port-au-Prince, Henry inadvertently landed in the US territory of Puerto Rico. The neighboring Dominican Republic also denied entry to the prime minister’s plane, citing the absence of a required flight plan.
Since his visit to Kenya, where he engaged in talks with President William Ruto to solidify a deal for a multinational force to restore order in Haiti, Prime Minister Henry has not made any public statements. The agreement involved sending 2,000 Kenyan police officers to Haiti, but a Kenyan opposition politician plans to challenge the deal in court. Concerns about safety have led several Kenyan officers to opt out of the deployment, citing a lack of clear operational guidelines.
Exploiting Henry’s absence, gangs in Port-au-Prince have coordinated attacks on strategic targets, including the airport, prisons, and the National Police Academy. The violence has resulted in the deaths of at least six police officers, the destruction of the police academy, and the release of thousands of inmates from prisons. Additionally, the gangs have set fire to the peace court in Croix-des-Bouquets and targeted over 20 other buildings, according to reports from The National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH).
The humanitarian crisis in Haiti has worsened, with more than 15,000 people fleeing their homes in the past week. Ulrika Richardson, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti, describes the situation as “extremely dire and very alarming,” with significant portions of the capital paralyzed, schools closed, and hospitals struggling to operate.
The motives of the gangs remain unclear beyond the demand for Prime Minister Henry’s removal. Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, a former police officer leading an alliance of gangs called G9, has issued a threat of “civil war” and potential “genocide” if Henry does not step down.
Amidst the chaos, Caribbean nations and the United States have urged Prime Minister Henry to pursue a political accord to bring stability to the nation. Irfaan Ali, the president of Guyana and the current chair of the regional body Caricom, emphasized the need for a political solution to anchor security and humanitarian efforts in Haiti. Despite round-the-clock efforts, Caricom has been unable to reach a consensus among stakeholders, further deepening the political crisis in the beleaguered nation.
Statement on the situation in Haiti (6 March 2024). pic.twitter.com/MnYC3STw7q
— President Dr Irfaan Ali (@presidentaligy) March 6, 2024