12 Apr 2024 | 05:08 PM UTC
Haiti: Officials extend curfew in Ouest Department until April 17 as gang violence continues /update 13
Haitian officials extend curfew in Ouest Department until April 17 as gang violence continues. State of emergency in effect until May 3.
Political instability and severe transport, business, and diplomatic services disruptions due to gang activity will likely continue in Haiti, especially in the capital and surrounding areas in the Ouest Department, through at least late April. Haitian officials have extended the nightly 19:00-06:00 curfew in effect in Ouest Department through at least April 17; further extensions are likely as gangs continue to overwhelm the Haitian National Police (Police Nationale d'Haiti, PNH). Moreover, the existing state of emergency (SoE) remains in force in the department through May 3. Public demonstrations are prohibited for the duration of the SoE.
Violent incidents often affect areas around the Champ de Mars area and the National Palace site. Gang-related violence, including murders, looting, and arson attacks, has also taken place in the Tabarre, Christ-Roi, Vivy Mitchell, Delmas, Metivier, and Petionville areas, among others. On April 7, after two days of relative calm in the capital, gangs carried out attacks in the Croix-des-Bouquets and Tabarre areas. Gangs also hijacked a cargo ship traveling between the capital and the northern city of Cap-Haitien on April 4, stealing at least 10,000 sacks of rice. However, the PNH retook the hijacked vessel two days later after more than five hours of armed clashes that resulted in several casualties.
Disruptions are continuing with Caribbean Port Services (CPS) having indefinitely suspended operations at the Port-au-Prince International Marine Terminal after gang members breached the facility and looted containers. Existing shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies are likely to become exacerbated as the port closure continues.
Several diplomatic missions have evacuated staff from Port-au-Prince amid gang violence and political instability, including those of the US, Canada, Germany, and the EU. The US embassy remains operational, and the US military has reinforced security at the facility. Other countries may evacuate their diplomatic staff from Haiti if the security crisis persists.
Travel Disruptions
Major flight disruptions will likely continue at airports across Haiti, including at Port-au-Prince's Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP) and Cap-Haitien International Airport (CAP). Commercial airlines have suspended flights serving PAP, resulting in limited options for leaving the country. However, Haiti-based Sunrise Airways (S6) has resumed some commercial flight operations via CAP. The Canadian and US governments have reiterated their advice to their respective citizens not to travel to Haiti and to leave as soon as feasible; civil aviation authorities in the Dominican Republic have recommended that airlines avoid all services to PAP.
Consider deferring travel to Haiti. 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 further with a surge in gang violence in late February as Henry arrived in Kenya for negotiations regarding a UN-backed multinational security deployment in the country. Gang leaders assert that the attacks 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 were chosen. While an exact date for the establishment of the nine-member transitional presidential council remains unclear at this time, as of April 12, negotiations for establishing a transitional presidential council were reportedly in the final stages. According to US officials, the new council, which would name a new prime minister and seek to get the country on a path toward elections in 2026, could be formally established in the coming days. The outgoing government must first formally approve and accept the council to begin a transition of power. Still, the council's formation is unlikely to result in a decrease in violence in the short term. Gangs will probably continue to fight for control over key buildings and strategic areas. A transition of power could also trigger demonstrations across the main urban centers.
The curfew and SoE 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. Overall, more than 53,000 of the capital's residents were displaced in March; most of these residents had already been displaced previously due to violence.
