In order to ensure the safety of the streets in Haiti, the government has implemented a curfew requiring people to remain indoors at night. This occurred due to the extensive violence, as gang gunmen seized control of the two primary prisons and set the prisoners loose.
A 3-day state of emergency started on Sunday night. The government said they will search for the people who escaped from prison and committed crimes like killing and kidnapping.
“The police were told to use all the right ways they have to make sure people follow the curfew and catch anyone who breaks the rules,” said a statement from Finance Minister Patrick Boivert, who is now the acting prime minister.
Last week, Prime Minister Ariel Henry went to other countries to get support for bringing in a UN security force to help make Haiti safer and more stable in the face of rising crime.
A new law was made after a very violent weekend in Haiti. Since Thursday, at least nine people have been killed in Port-au-Prince, including four police officers. Gangs have been attacking government buildings and important places like the airport and soccer stadium.
The attack on the National Penitentiary on Saturday was a big surprise for Haitians, even though they are used to the constant threat of violence.
Almost all of the around 4,000 prisoners got away, so the prison was strangely empty on Sunday. There were no guards around and there was a mess of sandals, clothes, and furniture outside. Three people were shot and are lying at the entrance of the prison.
In a different area, two men were found dead with their hands tied behind their backs, lying on the ground. People had to walk around roadblocks made of burning tires to get by.
18 ex-Colombian soldiers stayed in prison for being accused of working as mercenaries in the murder of Haitian President Jovenel Moise in July 2021. During the fighting on Saturday night, some of the Colombians recorded a video asking for their lives to be spared.
“Please, please give us help,” Francisco Uribe, one of the men, said in a message that many people have shared on social media. “They are killing people without caring who they are inside the cells. ”
On Sunday, Uribe told reporters that came into the usually well-protected place, “I didn’t run away because I’m innocent. ”
Colombia’s government asked Haiti to take extra care of the men.
Another prison in Port-au-Prince, with about 1,400 prisoners, was also taken over.
Group of armed men took over the country’s main soccer stadium and caused damage. They also kept one worker there against their will for a long time, according to Haiti’s soccer federation.
Shots were heard in many parts of the city. Many people in Haiti lost their internet connection because the main mobile network said that a fiber optic cable was cut during a violent attack.
In less than two weeks, gangs have been attacking state institutions more often. They are working together more and targeting places like the Central Bank, which they wouldn’t have attacked before. Gangs worked together to attack and kill four police officers on Thursday.
Last week, gangs shot at Haiti’s airport and the U. SThe Embassy announced that they are stopping all work trips to the country and they are asking all American citizens to leave as soon as they can. The embassy said it will cancel all consular appointments until Thursday.
The Biden administration is very worried about the danger in another country. They won’t send soldiers, but they will give money and help with planning.
There have been more attacks after violent protests became even more deadly. The prime minister went to Kenya to talk about a plan for a security mission in Haiti.
Henry became the prime minister after Moise was killed. He keeps delaying the elections for both the parliament and the president, which haven’t happened for almost 10 years.
Haiti’s National Police has about 9,000 officers to keep over 11 million people safe, as reported by the United Nations. They often can’t keep up with gangs, who are believed to control most of Port-au-Prince.
Jimmy Cherizier, a former police officer called Barbecue, now leads a gang group and admitted to causing the increase in attacks. He wants to catch Haiti’s police chief and government ministers and stop Henry from coming back.
The prime minister, who is a brain surgeon, ignored requests for him to quit and didn’t say anything when asked if he thought it was okay to go back home.