Port-au-Prince, Haiti – The government of Haiti has announced a state of emergency and imposed a nighttime curfew in response to a surge of violence that erupted over the weekend. The move comes after armed gang members raided the nation’s two largest prisons, leading to chaos and widespread unrest in the streets of Port-au-Prince.
The 72-hour state of emergency was implemented immediately to address the situation, with the government vowing to identify and capture the perpetrators who escaped from the prisons. Finance Minister Patrick Boivert, acting as prime minister, emphasized the need for law enforcement to enforce the curfew and apprehend all those involved in criminal activities.
The weekend marked a grim milestone in Haiti’s escalating cycle of violence, with at least nine people, including four police officers, losing their lives in coordinated attacks by gangs on state institutions. These attacks targeted various locations, including police stations, the international airport, and even the national soccer stadium.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s absence during the violence, as he sought international support for a UN-backed security force, underscored the challenges facing Haiti. The brazen siege on the National Penitentiary, resulting in the escape of almost all inmates, left the prison eerily deserted, with three bodies found at the entrance. Amid the chaos, former Colombian soldiers accused in President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination remained in the facility, pleading for their safety as violence ravaged the prison.
As the violence continued to escalate, residents in several neighborhoods reported gunfire, with another prison also falling under gang control. The nation’s top soccer stadium was vandalized, with an employee taken hostage, adding to the chaos that gripped the city. In response to the deteriorating security situation, the US Embassy advised American citizens to leave Haiti immediately, and the Biden administration expressed concern over the escalating violence.
The violence over the weekend highlighted the challenges facing Haiti’s security forces, already stretched thin by the dominance of criminal gangs in the capital. With calls for an international intervention growing louder, Haiti grapples with the urgent need to restore order and stability in the midst of escalating violence and lawlessness. The events of the weekend serve as a stark reminder of the fragile state of security in Haiti, with the government facing mounting pressure to address the root causes of the violence and restore peace to the troubled nation.