11 Nov 2024 | 06:45 PM UTC
Haiti: Protests possible through at least mid-November; gang violence likely to persist /update 23
Protests possible in urban centers across Haiti through at least mid-November; gang violence also likely to continue.
Civil unrest and associated gang violence are likely in parts of Haiti through at least mid-November. Several foreign embassies in Port-au-Prince have warned of potential protests over the coming days after the Presidential Transitional Council's (CPT) Nov. 10 decision to replace interim Prime Minister Garry Conille with businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aime. Some protests are likely in response to the move, as are episodes of gang violence. The US, Mexican, French, and Canadian embassies are closed on Nov. 11 as a precaution. Reports also indicate multiple schools and businesses have also remained closed on Nov. 11 due to the threat of gang violence.
Armed clashes have been reported in the Solino, Delmas, Petionville, and Tabarre areas of Port-au-Prince as of Nov. 11. Nearby gunfire has also disrupted flight operations at Port-au-Prince Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP), with at least one flight being diverted to the Dominican Republic after being struck by gunfire; there were no injuries reported in the incident. Further flight disruptions and cancellations remain possible at the facility. Port operations in Port-au-Prince also remain disrupted.
Clashes involving protesters, suspected gang members, and security forces are anticipated in the capital and elsewhere 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 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.
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.
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. Approximately 400 Kenyan personnel have already been deployed. This international effort coincides with the work of the nine-member CPT, which is striving to establish a framework for elections by early 2026. The CPT took over in April following the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry and is set to serve a non-renewable term until Feb. 2026.
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.
