Haiti: Acting Prime Minister Claude Joseph declares state of siege across country July 7 /update 2

Event

Following the decision of an extraordinary council of ministers meeting, Haiti's acting Prime Minister Claude Joseph declared July 7 that the country is under a state of siege. The country has three levels of emergency, ranging, in order of increasing severity, from "state of emergency," to "state of siege," to "state of war." The current state of siege is slated to remain in place for at least 15 days and allows a number of constitutional guarantees to be suspended.

Port-au-Prince's Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP), which has been closed until further notice, and the country's borders, which are also effectively sealed, are likely to remain closed over the short term. Flights previously scheduled to land in the capital have been either canceled or redirected; however, diplomatic and humanitarian flights may be allowed to continue. Before the declaration of a state of siege, the Dominican Republic had announced the closure of the land border with Haiti until further notice.

These emergency measures follow the assassination of President Jovenel Moise at his private residence in Pelerin 5, near Port-au-Prince, in the early hours of July 7. Moise's wife was also shot during the attack. There are conflicting reports regarding her status. The identity of the assailants remains unclear.

A few protests have been reported in Port-au-Prince July 7, with participants burning tires; however, most streets in the capital have remained empty and residents are staying in their homes. Additionally, a heavy presence of security forces has been reported around Place de Saint Pierre on Route de Kenscoff, the road that leads up from the Petion-Ville area to the presidential residence.

The US Embassy in Port-au-Prince issued a security alert July 7 restricting direct-hire US citizen staff to the embassy compounds in Tabarre. The French government has issued a warning recommending its nationals stay at home.

A heightened security presence will almost certainly persist in and around Port-au-Prince over the coming days. Violent protests and clashes between demonstrators and security forces are possible in the capital and, potentially, nationwide. The threat of violence is elevated at all public gatherings. Road travel and business disruptions are also likely near all protests and as part of authorities' response to the assassination. Additional temporary embassy closures are possible over the coming hours and days.

Advice

Monitor local developments and liaise closely with trusted contacts. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Avoid all protests, large public gatherings, and concentrations of security personnel. Consider sheltering in place and avoiding all nonessential travel July 7. Reconfirm the status of road routes, flights, and the border crossing with the Dominican Republic before travel.