Riots intensify in Haiti
Haiti's neighbors have begun beefing up their security and repatriating embassy staff as gang violence in the Caribbean nation escalates "significantly," while the whereabouts of the country's prime minister, who was on a trip to Kenya, are unknown.
Haiti's government on Sunday declared a 72-hour state of emergency and imposed a nighttime curfew after armed gangs stormed two of the country's largest prisons and freed thousands of inmates over the weekend. The gangs now control 80 percent of the capital Port-au-Prince, and are fighting to take over the city completely. About 15,000 people are estimated to have fled the city following the fierce shooting that began on Friday. The Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, said on Monday its defense minister visited the country's border to assess the security situation along the border and "military readiness for operations." Meanwhile, the neighboring country of the Bahamas has called home its embassy staff, leaving only two embassy security officers. Mexico has also advised its citizens not to travel to Haiti and asked those already in the country to avoid non-emergency travel and to store water, fuel and non-perishable items at home. The leaders of the gangs want the Prime Minister of Haiti Ariel Henry to resign, whose whereabouts are unknown since he traveled to Kenya where he was accompanied by President William Ruto of that country and witnessed the signing of an agreement to send Kenyan police officers who will lead an international force to fight gangs in Haiti under support of the United Nations.
President William Ruto of Kenya (right) welcoming the Prime Minister of Haiti Ariel Henry in Nairobi Feb 29 2024 Gang violence has plagued Haiti for years, but has intensified since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. Henry, who came to power after the assassination of Moise, had promised to leave power in early February, but later said security must first be re-established to ensure free and fair elections. Following the postponement of Henry's ouster, dangerous gangs are now estimated to control much of the capital. The United Nations estimates the conflict killed about 5,000 people last year and displaced another 300,000 amid shortages of food and medical care. A United Nations spokesman on Thursday said five countries have officially notified the United Nations of their intention to contribute officers to the international force to restore security in Haiti, which Henry requested be sent to the country as soon as 2022. Haiti is among the poorest countries in the world. and the poorest in the Americas.
