Armed gangs staged a daring attack on the main prison in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, resulting in the release of numerous inmates, including those connected to the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Reports indicate that around 4,000 men managed to escape in the aftermath.

Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has been experiencing a surge in violence, with gangs controlling 80% of Port-au-Prince. The recent escalation began when Prime Minister Ariel Henry traveled to Nairobi to discuss deploying a Kenyan-led multinational security force to Haiti. In response, gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, also known as “Barbecue,” declared a coordinated attack to remove him, leading to a series of shootings that claimed the lives of four police officers and left five injured.

Amid the chaos, the French embassy in Haiti advised against travel in and around the capital. Haiti's police union sought military assistance to reinforce the prison, but the compound was ultimately stormed on Saturday. As of Sunday, the prison doors remained open, and there were no signs of officers. Notably, 99 prisoners, including former Colombian soldiers involved in President Moïse’s murder, opted to stay in their cells due to fear of crossfire.

Haiti has been grappling with political turmoil since President Moïse’s assassination, and elections have not been held since 2016. Under a political agreement, elections were supposed to take place, and unelected Prime Minister Ariel Henry was expected to step down by February 7. However, this transition did not occur as planned. In January, the United Nations reported that over 8,400 people fell victim to gang violence in Haiti last year, marking a significant increase from 2022.

BOB Post