Haiti Govt Declares State Of Emergency, Curfew
Haiti has announced a 72-hour state of emergency and nighttime curfew in the vicinity of the capital due to escalating insecurity, triggered by two prison escapes.
Over the weekend, heavily armed groups attacked a prominent prison in Port-au-Prince, resulting in the death of at least 12 individuals and the liberation of approximately 4,000 prisoners.
Leaders of the gang express their desire to compel Prime Minister Ariel Henry to step down from office, noting that he is currently abroad.
The factions seeking his removal dominate approximately 80% of Port-au-Prince.
A statement from the government reported that two prisons, one located in the capital and the other in the nearby area of Croix des Bouquets, were forcefully entered during the weekend.
Individuals arrested in Port-au-Prince included members of a gang accused of involvement in the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
The recent surge in violence commenced last Thursday when the prime minister visited Nairobi to explore the possibility of deploying a multinational security force led by Kenya to Haiti.
Gang leader Jimmy Chérizier (nicknamed “Barbecue”) declared a coordinated attack to remove him.
“All of us, the armed groups in the provincial towns and the armed groups in the capital, are united,” said the former police officer, who is thought to be behind several massacres in Port-au-Prince.
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The police union in Haiti had requested assistance from the military to strengthen security at the primary prison in the capital. However, the facility was overrun on Saturday night.
According to the Reuters news agency, on Sunday, the prison doors remained unsecured, with no presence of officers. The report mentioned that three prisoners who attempted to escape were found lifeless in the courtyard.
A prison volunteer informed Reuters reporters that 99 inmates, including ex-Colombian soldiers implicated in President Moïse’s assassination, opted to stay in their cells due to concerns about getting caught in the crossfire and risking their lives.
Violence has prevailed following the assassination of President Moïse, with no successor appointed and no elections conducted since 2016.
By a political agreement, elections were supposed to take place, and the unelected Mr. Henry was expected to resign by February 7. However, this did not transpire.
In January, the United Nations reported that over 8,400 individuals fell prey to gang violence in Haiti in the previous year, encompassing incidents such as killings, injuries, and kidnappings. This figure represents an alarming increase, surpassing the numbers recorded in 2022, more than doubling the impact of such violence.
Haiti Govt Declares State Of Emergency, Curfew
