Haiti: Prime minister announces plan to resign, officials extend curfew in Ouest Department until March 14 due to gang violence /update 6

Haiti's de facto Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced late March 11 that he will resign as soon as a transition council is established. The announcement was made after officials from the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) attended an emergency meeting in Jamaica to discuss a political transition in Haiti. It remains unclear when a transition council will be in place. The council will likely be made up of two observers and seven voting members, including representatives from Haiti's civil society, political parties, and the private sector.

The curfew in the Ouest Department has been extended through at least March 14. Officials have also shortened it by an hour, meaning that the nightly curfew is now in effect 19:00-05:00; the measure can be renewed for periods of 72 hours at a time. The state of emergency (SoE) also remains in effect until at least April 3 in Ouest Department. Demonstrations are not allowed for the duration of the measure.

Several embassies have been evacuating staff from Port-au-Prince as gang violence and instability are likely to persist through at least late March. The US, Germany, and the EU missions are among those reducing diplomatic activities in the country. The US embassy remains operational as of March 12, and officials reinforced security around the embassy perimeter in the Tabarre area. As the security crisis and political uncertainty persist, several countries may limit their diplomatic activities in Haiti in the coming weeks.

Shortages of essential goods, including food and medicine, are likely in the coming days as the Caribbean Port Services (CPS) has indefinitely ceased operations at the main seaport of Port-au-Prince since March 7. This took place after armed intruders breached and looted the warehouse area of the terminal. The facility is the country's main shipping container terminal, handling the majority of maritime freight that reaches the capital.

Severe gang violence is likely to continue overwhelming security forces and causing major disruptions and instability. Further attempts to take control of Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP) are possible. While police officers and soldiers have been able to repel attacks thus far, the gangs could still succeed in their attempts if clashes continue in the coming days. Henry's return to Haiti remains uncertain at this time.

Gang attacks have targeted police facilities, including the police academy, as well as the central bank, the national soccer stadium, and several government buildings. Such acts will likely continue, especially as Haitian National Police (Police Nationale d’Haiti, PNH) officers are largely outnumbered by gangs and seem to focus on protecting a few critical hotspots, such as the airport. Several medical facilities face major challenges to keep operating; some medical staff also fled the capital in the recent spate of violence.

Gang violence will almost certainly continue causing disruptions to ground transport, business operations, diplomatic services, and flight operations at PAP. Multiple airlines have suspended flights to and from PAP due to the unrest.