19 Mar 2024 | 12:07 AM UTC
Haiti: Gang violence and social unrest likely to continue through at least late March /update 8
Gang violence, social unrest likely to continue in Haiti through late March; authorities extend curfew in Ouest Department until March 20.
Gang-related violence and social unrest are likely to persist in Haiti through at least late March, with criminal groups continuing to overwhelm the Haitian National Police (Police Nationale d'Haiti, PNH). In response to the violence and in an attempt to restore order, authorities have extended the nightly 19:00-05:00 curfew in Ouest Department until at least March 20; the curfew can be renewed for periods of 72 hours at a time. A related state of emergency (SoE) is scheduled to remain in effect in the territory until at least April 3. Officials have banned demonstrations on public roads in Ouest Department for the duration of the SoE.
Despite these security measures and Prime Minister Ariel Henry's recent announcement that he would resign following the creation of a transitional presidential council, gang-related violence has continued in and around Port-au-Prince. Armed gang members reportedly attacked and looted homes in the mountainous Laboule and Thomassin areas early March 18, prompting residents to flee. Ambulance crews subsequently removed more than 10 bodies from the streets of Petionville, located below the two abovementioned communities.
Electricite d'Haiti (EDH), the country's electricity company, also released a statement on March 18 asserting that gang members had vandalized several electrical facilities in the Port-au-Prince area, including the Varreux Power Plant, and stolen company equipment. EDH added that the damage caused electricity disruptions that have affected Route de l'Aeroport, Croix-des-Bouquets, Place Jeremie, Boulevard Marin, Santo, Bon Repos, Haut Tabarre, the vicinity of the US Embassy, and the Little Brothers and Sisters Hospital (Hopital Petits Freres et Soeurs), among other areas.
Gang members may also attempt to stage additional attacks on Haiti's main seaport in the capital. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on March 16 that one of its containers holding essential items for mothers and children was looted at the port. Caribbean Port Services (CPS), the port's operator, indefinitely suspended its operations at the facility on March 7 after gang members breached the port and looted containers. Further acts of looting and a continued suspension of port operations would likely exacerbate existing shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies, as well as further degrade the provision of medical services in the country. Existing shortages of medical supplies, fuel, and electricity due to the gang violence have already impeded medical facilities' operations across Haiti.
Several diplomatic missions have evacuated staff members from Port-au-Prince amid the gang violence and political instability, including those of the US, Canada, Germany, and the EU. The US Embassy nonetheless remains operational, and the US military has reinforced security at the facility. Several additional countries may evacuate their diplomatic staff from Haiti and limit their diplomatic activities in the country over the coming weeks as the security crisis persists.
Gang violence will likely continue to foment political instability and disrupt ground transport, business operations, diplomatic services, and flight operations in Haiti over the coming weeks. Gangs may make further attempts to take full control of the capital's Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP).
Avoid areas affected by significant gang violence. Maintain heightened vigilance if operating in the Port-au-Prince area. Prepare for disruptions to ground transport, flights, business operations, and diplomatic services. Consider making alternative arrangements for time-sensitive travel. Leave the area immediately if violence erupts nearby; if unable to do so, take refuge in a secure building until it is safe to depart. Adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities and your home government.
Haiti's security situation began to deteriorate with a surge in gang violence on Feb. 29 as Henry arrived in Kenya for negotiations regarding a UN-backed multinational security deployment in the country. G9 gang leader Jimmy Cherizier claimed that the attacks intended to target government officials, including PNH chief Frantz Elbe, in an attempt to dissuade Henry from returning to the country. Henry has since remained outside of Haiti, and announced late March 11 while in Puerto Rico that he would resign once a transitional presidential council was established and an interim successor and new cabinet was chosen.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has signaled that the transitional council would be composed of seven voting members from the country's political parties and business sector, as well as two observer roles, including a religious leader and member of the country's civil society. The time frame on which a transitional presidential council would materialize remained unclear as of mid-March. Some political parties have already rejected the plans to establish the transitional council. Among those opposing the plans are political allies Guy Philippe, a former rebel leader who helped oust President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004, and Jean Charles Moise, a former senator and presidential candidate. Philippe has asserted that Haitians should not implement proposals from the international community, declaring that "Haitians will decide who will govern Haiti."
The PNH has recently come under growing pressure, especially after gangs attacked the National Penitentiary in the capital and a prison facility in Croix-des-Bouquets, freeing thousands of inmates on March 2. The G9 gang has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on critical infrastructure, and Cherizier, the group's leader, has demanded the immediate removal of Henry. Gang attacks have targeted police facilities, including the police academy, as well as the central bank, the national soccer stadium, and several government buildings.
The curfew and SoE measures have been in place since early March but do not appear to have resulted in any tangible improvement in the security situation as officials lack the capacity to enforce these measures. Due to the ongoing violence, the US and Canadian governments have urged their citizens to leave Haiti as soon as possible; however, options to do so remain extremely limited.
