Haiti Violence: Haiti Gangs Demand PM Resignation After Mass Jailbreak
Haiti declared a 72-hour state of emergency on Sunday, 4th Feb, after armed gangs stormed the country's largest prison. At least 12 people were killed in the ensuing chaos and about 3700 inmates were freed in the mass jailbreak. The jailbreak from the National Penitentiary in the capital, Port-au-Prince, freed detainees including gang members charged in connection with the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. The ongoing unrest followed after the assassination.
According to the United Nations, over 8,400 individuals were victims of gang violence in Haiti last year, encompassing incidents such as killings, injuries, and kidnappings, which is more than twice the figures recorded in 2022.
The recent prison escape occurred following Prime Minister Ariel Henry's visit to Nairobi to explore the possibility of dispatching a multinational security force led by Kenya to Haiti. Subsequently, gang leader Jimmy Chérizier (Nicknamed "Barbecue") announced a synchronized assault aimed at ousting Henry and toppling the remnants of his administration.
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| President Ruto with Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry during his state visit to Nairobi last week. |
"All of us, the armed groups in the provincial towns and the armed groups in the capital, are united," said Chérizier who is also a former police officer.
The New York Times reported that Haiti plunged into severe turmoil following Moïse's assassination, resulting in widespread gang violence and the virtual disintegration of security.
Official statistics indicate that almost 3,000 out of the country's 15,000 police officers have deserted their positions over the last two years. The paper stated that in the absence of a president or elected national officials, gangs have taken over a significant portion of Port-au-Prince, causing fear and distress to thousands of individuals on a daily basis.
Haiti's police union had asked the military to help reinforce the capital's main prison, but the compound was stormed late on Saturday. On Sunday the doors of the prison were still open and there were no signs of officers, three inmates who tried to flee lay dead in the courtyard according to a Reuters News Agency report.
According to the rights group RNDDH, the prison in Port-au-Prince, originally designed for 700 inmates, was housing 3,687 individuals as of February last year. Among those incarcerated were 18 former Colombian soldiers suspected of involvement in Moïse's assassination, along with a few elderly and infirm prisoners.
Last week, Henry traveled to Nairobi in an attempt to secure the deployment of 1,000 Kenyan police officers to address the escalating violence. However, the plan was obstructed by the Kenyan High Court in January, which mandated an international agreement before sending police abroad. This agreement was ultimately signed on Friday. In addition to the Kenyan officers, Benin has offered 2,000 troops; the Bahamas has committed 150 personnel; Jamaica and Antigua & Barbuda have expressed their willingness to assist; and the US has pledged £158m ($200m) to support the deployment.
"It is unclear whether an international police force led by Kenya, which has drawn criticism from human rights groups, could help check the violence," reported The New York Times.
Henry is often singled out as the source of the issue. Following Moïse's assassination, a political agreement stipulated that Haiti would organize elections, and the unelected Prime Minister was expected to relinquish power by 7 February of this year. However, Henry has contended that prioritizing the restoration of security is necessary to guarantee the integrity of free and fair elections.
Since the term of the last elected senators concluded in January 2023, Haiti has been without any elected government officials. The political vacuum, coupled with widespread discontent over the alarming levels of violence, has prompted numerous protests against the administration, with demonstrators calling for the prime minister's resignation, according to the BBC.
In addition to the extensive civil and political turmoil, Haiti's "economy and public health system are also in tatters," said the broadcaster.
Speaking to the BBC, Claude Joseph - who was serving as acting prime minister when President Moïse was assassinated and who now heads the opposition party Those Committed to Development - said Haiti was living through a "nightmare". He added that despite that, Henry wanted "to stay as long as possible in charge".
"He agreed to step down on 7 February. Now he decides to stay, despite the fact that there are huge protests throughout the country asking him to step down... now those criminals are using violent means to force him to step down."
Although they may have differing opinions on the method to oust Henry, both Joseph and gang leader Chérizier concurred that it's the sole viable solution. Chérizier asserted that the nation is no longer able to withstand the current circumstances. Without a leader, food, security, the "population is tired", he said. "It can't take it anymore."
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