17 May 2019 | 02:26 AM UTC
Haiti: Opposition protests planned nationwide on May 18
Opposition supporters to protest in Haiti May 18; heightened security presence and traffic disruptions in the days leading up to the demonstration
Event
Opposition-led protests are planned in Haiti on Saturday, May 18, to demand the departure of President Jovenel Moïse from power. Exact locations and times for the protests were not immediately reported, although protests frequently take place in Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien (Nord department).
A heightened security presence and traffic disruptions are likely leading up to and on the day of the protests. The risk of associated violence cannot be ruled out.
Context
May 18 also marks the 216th anniversary of the adoption of the first purely Haitian flag in 1803.
Numerous demonstrations have been staged in recent months to call for greater government transparency after several public officials, including President Jovenel Moïse, were implicated in a scandal related to the alleged misuse of PetroCaribe funds.
Advice
Individuals in Haiti are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests and demonstrations as a precaution, and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities.
