Amid the unrest in Haiti since 2018, armed gangs stormed Haiti's two largest prisons in March 2024, resulting in more than 4,700 inmates escaping. The gangs demanded that prime minister Ariel Henry resign, attacking and closing Toussaint Louverture International Airport and preventing Henry from entering the country. The Haitian government declared a 72-hour state of emergency and a nighttime curfew in Ouest Department in an attempt to curb the violence and chaos. On 12 March 2024, Henry indicated his intention to resign as prime minister in response to the deteriorating security situation.[8]
| Battle of Port-Au-Prince (2024)[1] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Gang war in Haiti and the Haitian crisis (2018–present) | |||||||
 Map of Haiti | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies |
Haitian security forces Armed civilians | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Jimmy Chérizier Guy Philippe |
 Ariel Henry Michel Patrick Boisvert | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 38 dead,[3] 15,000 homeless, 362,000 displaced[4][5][6][7] | |||||||
Background
editHaiti has been undergoing a crisis since 2018, including political assassinations and a gang war since 2023.
On 1 March 2024, Haitian prime minister Ariel Henry signed an agreement in Nairobi, Kenya attempting to allow the deployment of 1,000 Kenyan police officers to Haiti.[9]
Events
editJimmy Chérizier, the leader of the "G9 Family and Allies" gang in Port-au-Prince, released a video announcing his intention to prevent Ariel Henry from returning to Haiti with the operation. On 1 March, when asked if it was safe for him to return to Haiti, Henry shrugged.[10] Chérizier apparently had the backing of some other gangs as part of a coalition named "Viv Ansanm", Haitian Creole for "living together". Though that coalition was quick to dissolve, other gangs launched attacks, together with Chérizier's G9 gang.[11]
On 2 and 3 March, armed gangs stormed the two largest prisons in Haiti, one in Croix des Bouquets, the other in Port-au-Prince.[12] More than 4,700 inmates escaped.[10] Police were reported to be undermanned and outgunned by the gangs, with only 9,000 operating in Haiti at the time of the fighting.[13] The 400 Mawozo gang operates in the Croix-des-Bouquets area and has influence at its prison, according to Insight Crime.[14] Chérizier, who took responsibility for the surge in violence, said his goal was to capture Haitian government officials, including the police chief.[15] Over 12 people have been killed in the conflict.[12] The UN estimated that 15,000 people fled the violence in Port-au-Prince.[15]
The Haitian government, under finance minister Michel Patrick Boisvert, declared a 72-hour state of emergency and a nighttime curfew in an attempt to curb the violence and chaos.[16] Chérizier claimed responsibility for the increase in attacks, and demanded Henry's resignation, adding that the goal of the increase in attacks was to capture important government officials, including the police chief.[9] Many escaped gang leaders joined the attacks,[17] fueling speculation that an alliance between rival gangs in the Haitian gang wars was forming to overthrow the Haitian elite.[18]
On 4 March, at around 1 p.m. local time, armed gangs attacked the heavily fortified Toussaint Louverture International Airport, exchanging gunfire with police and the Haitian Armed Forces, in an attempt to take control of the facility after rumors that Henry would return to Haiti.[19] Johnson André, the leader of the 5 Seconds gang, appeared to be linked to the attacks.[10] The attacks resulted in the closure of the airport and prevented Henry from entering the country.[20] Other riot leaders, including Guy Philippe, indicated that they would try to take over the presidency of Haiti.[21] The Stade Sylvio Cator[22][23] and national bank[23] were attacked. Other public institutions, including schools and banks, were closed.[24]
There was another reported jailbreak on 5 March, leading to the death of three inmates. Haitian police were able to stop attempts at escape.[25][26][better source needed] On 6 March, a police station in Bas-Peu-de-Chose was attacked and burned down by gangs.[27]
On 7 March, the state of emergency in the Ouest Department, including a nightly curfew and bans on protests, was extended from three days to a month (3 April).[27]
On 8 March, gangs attacked two police stations near the National Palace,[28] as well as the palace itself,[29] and burned down the interior ministry.[30] The security perimeter around Toussaint Louverture International Airport was breached by gangs, while gunfire was heard throughout Port-au-Prince.[31]
On 9 March, gangs attacked and occupied the headquarters of the Institute of Social Welfare in Port-au Prince, while the government of the Dominican Republic announced plans to evacuate its officials and citizens from Port-au-Prince.[32]
On 21 March, one of the gang leaders, known only as Makandal, was killed by the bwa kale in Petion-Ville.[33] A day later, Ernst Julme, the leader of Delmas 95 who had escaped from prison earlier in the month, was killed by police in the same area. Julme's death was described as a significant setback for Cherizier in his attempts to take over Port-au-Prince.[34][35]
Reactions
editInternational
edit
Colombia: The Colombian foreign ministry asked Haiti to provide "special protection" to the 18 ex-Colombian soldiers convicted of the assassination of Jovenel Moïse who remained in their cells during the jailbreak.[36]
United States: President Joe Biden expressed concern about the deteriorating security situation in Haiti and emphasized the need for a coordinated international response to stabilize Haiti. The State Department highlighted continued efforts to help the Haitian National Police and other local institutions improve their capacity in ensuring public safety and combating gang violence.[37][38]
Jamaica: Prime Minister Andrew Holness called for a coordinated international response to address the deteriorating situation. The Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has voiced significant worry about the recent jailbreak in Haiti, which resulted in the escape of many detainees.[39]
Canada: Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly announced that Canada had airlifted 18 Canadians out of Haiti.[40] The operation involved the deployment of Joint Task Force Two (JTF2), to assist with security and contingency planning at the Canadian embassy in Port-au-Prince.
France: Due to the disruption in commercial air services to Port-au-Prince, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry for the Armed Forces, is arranging special planes to assist the most vulnerable nationals to escape the country.[41]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Cornu, Jean-Michael; Rakovsky, Valentin; Rivas Pacheco, Guillermo (6 March 2024). "Gang activity in Haiti's Port-au-Prince". Princeton Clarion. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ "Haitian police spokesman says new gang attacks overwhelmed officers: 'The city center was at war'". AP News. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ @MARADIOFM (12 March 2024). "Le @synapoha annonce le décès de deux policiers .:la policière Edwige Antoine qui était souffrante et Estinor Angelot qui est décédé la nuit dernière dans le dortoir du Sous-Commissariat de Delmas 62" [The @synapoha announces the death of two police officers: police officer Edwige Antoine who was unwell and Estinor Angelot who died last night in the cells of the Delmas Sub-Police Station 62] (Tweet) (in French) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Haiti: the government declares a state of emergency, at least 12 dead and 4 thousand prisoners escaped". Agenzia Nova. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ "Haiti violence displaces 15,000 already displaced people: UN". Macau Business. 6 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ Mérancourt, Wildlore; Schmidt, Samantha (9 March 2024). "Haitians shot dead in the street and there's no one to take the corpses away". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ "Several embassies evacuate staff as Haiti sinks deeper in violence". Daily Sabah. Port-au-Prince. Agence France-Presse. 11 March 2024.
- ^ Hu, Caitlin Stephen (12 March 2024). "Haiti's leader to resign as gangs run rampant through country engulfed in crisis". CNN. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Kenya signs deal in attempt to rescue plan for deployment of 1,000 police officers to Haiti". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ a b c Coto, Dánica (4 March 2024). "There's chaos in Haiti. Powerful gangs are attacking key targets like prisons as alliances shift". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "Haiti's capital paralysed by gunfire as gang boss threatens police chief and ministers". The Guardian. Associated Press. 29 February 2024. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ a b Astier, Henri; Avagnina, Gianluca (3 March 2024). "Haiti violence: Haiti gangs demand PM resign after mass jailbreak". BBC News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ "Haitian police spokesman says new gang attacks overwhelmed officers: 'The city center was at war'". Associated Press. 1 March 2024. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "400 Mawozo". Insight Crime. 23 March 2022.
- ^ a b Jones, Sam (4 March 2024). "Haiti declares state of emergency after thousands of dangerous inmates escape". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ Sanon, Evans; Luxama, Pierre-Richard (3 March 2024). "Haiti declares a curfew as it tries to restore order after weekend jailbreak, explosion of violence". Associated Press. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ Charles, Jacqueline (4 March 2024). "Haiti has deployed its army; troops joined police to push back gang takeover of airport". Miami Herald. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Taylor, Luke (4 March 2024). "Haiti's weekend of violence puts government future in doubt". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Charles, Jacqueline (4 March 2024). "Haiti has deployed its army; troops joined police to push back gang takeover of airport". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Buschschlüter, Vanessa (5 March 2024). "Haiti gangs try to take over Port-au-Prince airport". BBC News. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Berg, Matt; Toosi, Nahal; Ward, Alexander (5 March 2024). "'Catastrophic' fears in Washington as Haiti crisis worsens". Politico. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Wyss, Jim (4 March 2024). "Violent Prison Break Sparks Murder, Mayhem in Haiti". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ a b Sanon, Evans; Luxama, Pierre-Richard (3 March 2024). "Haiti declares a curfew as it tries to restore order after weekend jailbreak, explosion of violence". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ Sanon, Evens; Goodman, Joshua; Coto, Dánica (5 March 2024). "Haitian prime minister lands in Puerto Rico as he tries to return home to quell gang violence". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ @NouvellesA1 (6 March 2024). "Deux morts et cinq blessés. Tel est le bilan des victimes lors de la tentative d'évasion à la prison civile de Jacmel dans la nuit du 5 mars 2024. L' information a été confirmée par le directeur départemental de la police du Sud-Est, Serge Allande Jolicoeur. #NouvellesDesAmériques" [Two dead and five injured. These were the casualties of the attempted escape from Jacmel civil prison on the night of 5 March 2024. The information was confirmed by Serge Allande Jolicoeur, Departmental Director of the South-East Police. #NewsFromAmericas] (Tweet) (in French) – via Twitter.
- ^ @Radio_Metronome (6 March 2024). "Update : Tentative d'évasion à la prison civile de Jacmel. 3 morts et 6 blessés, selon le Directeur départemental de la PNH dans le Sud-est. D'après Serge Allande Jolicoeur, la prison avait 700 détenus. À la question de savoir comment ces prionniers ont pu trouver la mort, le Directeur départemental n'était pas en mesure de donner des détails.#metronomehaiti" [Update: Attempted escape from Jacmel civil prison. 3 dead and 6 injured, according to the Departmental Director of the PNH in the South-East. According to Serge Allande Jolicoeur, the prison had 700 inmates. When asked how the prisoners died, the Departmental Director was unable to give any details. #metronomehaiti] (Tweet) (in French) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "Haiti extends state of emergency as violence and displacement soar". Al Jazeera. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ Rios, Michael; Roth, Richard; Akbarzai, Sahar; Lau, Chris (9 March 2024). "Haiti crisis: Armed men attack police stations near National Palace as gang violence spirals". CNN. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ Rivers, Matt (8 March 2024). "Gangs attack Haiti's national palace in Port-au-Prince: Source". ABC News. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ Wyss, Jim (9 March 2024). "Haitian Gangs Torch Ministry as Nation Descends Into Lawlessness". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ "Intensos tiroteos se registran en el entorno del Palacio Presidencial de Haití". Cooperativa.cl (in Spanish). EFE. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ "República Dominicana planea evacuar a sus funcionarios y de otros países de Haití" [Dominican Republic plans to evacuate its officials and other countries from Haiti] (in Spanish). 9 March 2024.
- ^ "Suspected Haiti gang members set on fire as conflict spreads to capital suburb". NBC News. 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Prominent Haitian gang leader shot dead by police as political groups near finalisation of transition council". Sky News. 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Violence Rises In Haiti, Gang Leader Killed As Transition Council Close To Being Established". Arise News. 22 March 2024.
- ^ Jones, Sam (4 March 2024). "Haiti declares state of emergency after thousands of dangerous inmates escape". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "Haiti". United States Department of State. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "Haiti". United States Department of State. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "High-Level CARICOM Meeting on Haiti – Office of the Prime Minister". 15 March 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "Canada is evacuating 'most vulnerable' citizens from Haiti: Joly - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ étrangères, Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires. "Haiti – Special flights for vulnerable French nationals wishing to leave Port-au-Prince (24 Mar. 2024)". France Diplomacy - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
Sources
edit- Walker, Summer (October 2022). Gangs of Haiti: Expansion, power and an escalating crisis (PDF). Geneva: Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- Regional Overview Latin America & the Caribbean April 2023 (PDF). Geneva: ACLED. May 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.