In response to a weekend marked by unprecedented violence, Haiti’s government has declared a state of emergency and imposed a nighttime curfew. The move comes after armed gang members stormed the country’s two largest prisons, resulting in chaos and the escape of numerous inmates.
The 72-hour state of emergency was implemented immediately, with authorities vowing to apprehend the perpetrators, including killers, kidnappers, and other violent criminals who fled during the prison break.
“The police were ordered to use all legal means at their disposal to enforce the curfew and apprehend all offenders,” stated Finance Minister Patrick Boivert, acting as prime minister in the absence of Ariel Henry, who recently traveled abroad seeking support for a UN-backed security force.
The weekend’s violence saw a significant escalation in Haiti’s ongoing turmoil, with at least nine deaths reported since Thursday, including four police officers. Gangs launched coordinated attacks on state institutions in the capital, Port-au-Prince, targeting police stations, the international airport, and even the national soccer stadium.
The most shocking incident occurred Saturday night when armed assailants besieged the National Penitentiary, leading to a mass jailbreak. Nearly all of the estimated 4,000 inmates escaped, leaving the prison eerily deserted on Sunday. Three bodies were found at the entrance, victims of the chaos.
Among those who remained in the prison were 18 former Colombian soldiers implicated in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. In a desperate plea for help, one of the Colombians, Francisco Uribe, shared a video on social media, revealing the dire situation inside the facility.
In response, Colombia’s foreign ministry urged Haiti to provide “special protection” for the men. Meanwhile, families of inmates anxiously searched for their loved ones, uncertain of their fate.
The violence extended beyond the prisons, with several neighborhoods reporting gunfire. Another prison, housing around 1,400 inmates, was also overrun by gang members. Haiti’s top soccer stadium was vandalized, and an employee was taken hostage. Internet service was disrupted after a fiber optic cable was severed during the rampage.
The surge in violence prompted the U.S. Embassy to suspend official travel to Haiti and advise American citizens to depart immediately. The embassy also canceled consular appointments until Thursday.
The escalation in attacks has been attributed to Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue, a former police officer turned gang leader. Chérizier claimed responsibility for the violence, aiming to capture Haiti’s police chief and government ministers and thwart Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s return.
Haiti’s National Police, outnumbered and outgunned by gangs controlling much of Port-au-Prince, has struggled to contain the escalating crisis. Despite calls for his resignation, Prime Minister Henry has remained silent on the matter, leaving many Haitians anxious about the future security and stability of their country.
Source: Africanews
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