Reports from news agency EFE indicate that there was significant gunfire observed near the national palace in the capital city of Port-au-Prince on Friday. This event occurred amidst ongoing political turmoil arising from the absence of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
On Sunday, Haiti declared a state of emergency in response to an increase in violence, with armed gangs helping prisoners escape and about 10,000 individuals being forced to leave their homes. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Henry was in Kenya, negotiating for assistance from an international force to combat Haiti’s gangs.
According to a source in law enforcement, US ABC News stated that multiple government buildings in or near downtown Port-au-Prince were under attack by gangs on Friday evening.
According to the source, the assault involved coordination and speed as various groups simultaneously attacked multiple government structures, such as the presidential palace, interior ministry, and a police headquarters in Haiti’s western district encompassing Port-au-Prince.
According to the broadcaster, individuals observed significant gunfire and heard loud explosions. As a result, hundreds of people evacuated the vicinity while the gangs engaged in intense fighting with law enforcement.
CNN reported that two police stations in close proximity to the national palace were assaulted.
The temporary president, Henry, was visiting Kenya on February 29th when the gang attack started and has not been able to go back to Port-au-Prince. The United States recently urged him to speed up the transition of power as armed gangs attempt to remove him from office.
Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, a former special forces police officer who now leads a gang, has declared that the goal of criminal organizations is to remove Haiti’s disliked prime minister and free its 11.7 million citizens from what he views as undemocratic leadership.
Last Friday, Guy Philippe, a key figure in the 2004 coup in Haiti, called for the resignation of Prime Minister Henry and expressed his desire to become the country’s president upon returning from his imprisonment in the United States.
In an interview with Reuters, Philippe, a retired police chief aged 56, expressed his belief that the individual in question should step down from their position. He believes that they should remain in their current role and allow Haitians to determine their own future.
Philippe announced plans to grant amnesty to gang leaders if he became the leader.
A comment was requested from Henry’s representative but a response was not received immediately.
Philippe played a significant role in ousting President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004. Despite winning a Senate position in 2016, he was apprehended and sent to the US before being able to take his oath of office.
In November, Philippe was sent back to Haiti from the US following a six-year incarceration for participating in money laundering related to the sale of illegal drugs.
After coming back to Haiti, Philippe has journeyed around the nation, gathering support and demanding that the government resign.
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This report was made possible by the contributions of Reuters.
Source: theguardian.com
