03 Oct 2024 | 01:58 AM UTC
Haiti: Gang violence continues to disrupt access to Port-au-Prince's port as of Oct. 2; insecurity likely nationwide through at least late October /update 22
Port operations remain disrupted in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as of Oct. 2 amid gang violence; nationwide insecurity is likely through October.
As of Oct. 2, port operations in Port-au-Prince are likely to remain disrupted amid ongoing gang violence, with nationwide insecurity expected to persist through at least late October. Caribbean Port Services (CPS) initially closed land access to the main port on Sept. 26 to help security forces regain control after gang members broke in and looted containers. The closure was intended to last until Sept. 29. This decision came in response to several security incidents, including the armed kidnapping of two Filipino sailors from their ship in port on Sept. 10.
Further clashes involving suspects and security forces are anticipated as the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission focuses on securing key transportation and government infrastructure in the coming weeks. This will likely include areas in and around Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP), seaports, the Presidential Palace, and highways connecting Port-au-Prince to the rest of the country. Attacks targeting officials or government buildings remain a possibility.
A nationwide state of emergency (SoE) has been in effect since early September. This was prompted by an attack on the Peligre hydroelectric power plant, which led to significant electricity outages since Sept. 2. Reports suggest that around a million people have been affected in Port-au-Prince. The attack on the plant reportedly happened amidst protests denouncing frequent power outages. The SoE measure grants wide-ranging powers to officials, and gatherings considered subversive or a threat to public order are prohibited.
The port closure will likely cause further business disruptions and supply shortages for Port-au-Prince, as most goods transit through the port.
Recent political and security developments and rising prices for essential goods will likely trigger further demonstrations, especially in central areas of the capital and other urban centers nationwide. Protest activity can exacerbate food, fuel, and medical supply shortages.
Air Travel Disruptions
Flight disruptions remain possible at Haitian airports, especially at PAP and Cap-Haitien International Airport (CAP). Commercial flights have resumed via PAP after severe gang violence forced the airport to close for multiple weeks. Further criminal activity disrupting the airports' operations is possible.
Maintain heightened vigilance if operating in the Port-au-Prince area. Prepare for severe 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.
On Aug. 27, joint operations between the Multinational Security Support (MSS) forces and Haitian National Police (PNH) in Port-au-Prince's Solino and Bel Air areas resulted in the deaths of 18 suspects and injuries to three PNH officers. Local reports indicate that such operations targeting key areas in the capital are likely to continue in the coming weeks as the country grapples with high levels of violence. The UN reports between April and June 2023, at least 1,379 people were killed or injured, and 428 were kidnapped, with a notable increase in kidnappings in the Artibonite Department. Additionally, gender-based violence is reportedly rising, particularly in the capital.
As the MSS mission ramps up, further deployments are anticipated, with plans to eventually station around 2,500 security personnel from various countries, including Kenya, the Bahamas, and Jamaica, to combat gang violence and stabilize Haiti's political landscape. As of Sept. 5, approximately 400 Kenyan personnel have already been deployed. This international effort coincides with the work of the nine-member Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) and acting Prime Minister Garry Conille, who are striving to establish a framework for elections by early 2026. The CPT, which took over in April following the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry, is set to serve a non-renewable term until Feb. 2026.
