Recent events in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, highlight the complex political incidents and security problems in the country. The armed gangs’ raid on the main prison in Port-au-Prince, releasing thousands of prisoners, validates concerns about the extent of the country’s security vulnerability.
Approximately 4,000 inmates, the majority of whom have now escaped, were held in the prison. Among the escapees are gang members charged in connection with the 2021 assassination case of Haitian President Jovenel Moise. Despite being one of the poorest countries in Latin America, violence-related incidents in Haiti have been on the rise in recent years. The violence in the country is largely attributed to gangs trying to take control of the region using their firepower.
Nearly 80% of the capital is under the control of gangs. These gangs threaten not only the security landscape but also the government and its policies of political stability. The actions of gangs aiming to overthrow Prime Minister Ariel Henry further inflame the existing political chaos in the country.
Prime Minister Henry’s trip to Nairobi and discussions on deploying an international force led by Kenya to Haiti have led to an increase in violent incidents. This surge is attributed to the coordinated actions of gangs seriously threatening the security forces.
In recent armed attacks, four Haitian police officers died, and five others were injured. These attacks demonstrate the delicate state of security in the country. The French Embassy in Haiti also issued warnings to the public due to the security conditions around the capital.
The political instability and security issues in Haiti have become even more dire since the assassination of President Moise. The inability to identify a successor and the consequent failure to progress with elections as needed have compounded the country’s troubles. A political agreement required Prime Minister Henry, who had not been elected by February 7, to resign and proceed with elections, but these goals have not been met.
The United Nations announced in January that more than 8,400 people had been killed in gang attacks in Haiti over the past year. This highlights the extent of the security and political crisis, continuing to draw the attention of the international community.
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Photo by Susan Mohr on Unsplash