The United States military recently conducted a mission in Haiti to transport select embassy staff out of the country and deployed additional troops to enhance embassy safety. This action was taken after a large group of armed gang members attempted to take control of the political district in the capital city, Port-au-Prince.
The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that their ambassador accompanied other EU delegates in departing for the Dominican Republic on Sunday.
On February 29th, gangs in Haiti initiated an attack to overthrow the government, attacking and looting police stations, prisons, and hospitals and surrounding key locations such as the port and airport.
Ariel Henry, the country’s prime minister, was not present during the start of the rebellion. He is currently stuck in Puerto Rico, and a US official recently cautioned that his government, which lacks support, could collapse at any moment.
On Friday evening, the gang uprising grew in intensity when numerous criminals gathered in Champ de Mars, a downtown district in Port-au-Prince. This area is known for its palm trees and is home to various government buildings, embassies, consulates, banks, hotels, as well as Haiti’s highest court and the official residence of the president.
According to reports, members of a gang set fire to the interior ministry, which was constructed after the 2010 earthquake that devastated the capital city. They then proceeded to shoot at the presidential palace but were later repelled by the military.
In an interview with the AyiboPost news website, one police officer cautioned that if the Champ de Mars were to collapse, it would signify the end.
According to the newspaper Le Nouvelliste, the gangs have initiated a deliberate effort to expel the police from the key area of Port-au-Prince. Their report on Saturday morning stated, “Downtown Port-au-Prince has succumbed; this is now undeniable,” accompanied by a picture of a police station that had been set on fire.
“The leader of the Haitian police union, Lionel Lazarre, expressed to AyiboPost that his fellow officers are facing great difficulty in coping with the attack. He stated, “Our police force is in a weakened state.”
On Sunday, it appeared that the police were still in charge of the Champ de Mars region. However, multiple foreign governments have advised their citizens to evacuate Haiti due to concerns that President Henry’s government could potentially collapse in a matter of days or even hours.
The Miami Herald reported that US marines were transported to Port-au-Prince on Sunday in order to strengthen embassy security and evacuate non-essential personnel. According to US defense officials, this operation took place in the middle of the night and was carried out by helicopter at the request of the state department.
According to a German foreign ministry representative, the high level of security concerns in Haiti has led the German ambassador and permanent representative in Port-au-Prince to depart for the Dominican Republic, along with members of the EU delegation. They will continue their work from the neighboring country until further notice.
Haiti’s security state has gradually worsened under Henry’s leadership as prime minister and acting president following the 2021 killing of Jovenel Moïse. This has allowed influential gangs involved in activities such as kidnapping, drug trafficking, and extortion to hold sway over more than 80% of the city of Port-au-Prince, and their control has expanded even more in recent times.
Daniel Foote, who previously served as the US’s special representative to Haiti, forecasted that the gangs would decrease in intensity if their request for Henry to step down was fulfilled.
According to Foote, the condition of security was now critical and required a significant international effort to regain stability. He suggested that this undertaking should include 5,000 to 10,000 law enforcement officials and be headed by a major economic power with expertise in strengthening police capabilities, such as the US, Canada, Britain, France, or another EU nation.
According to Foote, the proposal to send 2,000 Kenyan police officers to Haiti with the support of the United Nations is far from enough. He stated, “At best, it’s a waste of money and at worst, it’s a suicide mission.”
Over the weekend, as the level of violence rose and potential successors of Henry vied for power, the authoritarian ruler of El Salvador portrayed himself as an unexpected hero. Nayib Bukele has detained numerous Salvadorians as part of a strict campaign against gangs in his country, earning praise from members of the populist right in Latin America and Republican officials in the US.
On Sunday, Bukele responded to a rightwing blogger’s post about Haiti by stating, “We have the ability to correct this situation.” However, he also mentioned that this would require a UN security council resolution, the approval of the country hosting the mission, and all expenses related to the mission to be paid for.
On Monday, Caribbean leaders will convene in Kingston, Jamaica to address the crisis. Last week, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the chair of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and president of Guyana, stated that they were committed to assisting Haitian leaders in finding a resolution to the current political situation.
Ali stated that the higher number of deaths in Haiti compared to Ukraine should cause concern for both the people of Haiti and the global community.
Source: theguardian.com
