US Begins Airlifting Embassy Staff as Gangs Attempt to Seize Haiti’s Capital
In a dramatic turn of events, the United States has initiated an airlift operation to evacuate embassy staff from Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, as heavily armed gangs make a brazen attempt to seize control of the city. The situation in Haiti has been rapidly deteriorating since February 29th when gangs launched an offensive against the government, storming police stations, prisons, and hospitals, and laying siege to strategic locations. The prime minister, Ariel Henry, who was out of the country when the rebellion began, finds himself stranded in Puerto Rico, while his unpopular government teeters on the brink of collapse.
The latest escalation occurred on Friday night when dozens of criminals converged on Champ de Mars, a vital downtown area housing government ministries, embassies, consulates, banks, hotels, and key institutions like Haiti’s supreme court and official presidential residence. The gang members reportedly set fire to the interior ministry, which was built after the devastating earthquake in 2010, and opened fire on the presidential palace before being pushed back by troops. The situation remains precarious as one police officer warned, “If the Champ de Mars falls… it’s the end.”
The Haitian police force is struggling to withstand the onslaught, with Lionel Lazarre, the head of the national union of Haitian police officers, admitting that they are on their knees. Foreign governments have advised their citizens to leave Haiti amid fears that Henry’s administration could collapse imminently. In response to the escalating violence, US marines have been flown into Port-au-Prince to reinforce embassy security and evacuate non-essential staff. The operation was conducted under the cover of darkness via helicopter at the request of the state department.
Haiti’s security situation has been steadily deteriorating since Ariel Henry assumed office as prime minister and acting president following the assassination of Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Politically connected gangs involved in kidnapping, drug smuggling, and extortion have gained control over more than 80% of Port-au-Prince, with their influence expanding in recent days. Daniel Foote, the former US special envoy to Haiti, believes that meeting the gangs’ demand for Henry’s resignation could potentially ease tensions. However, Foote argues that the security situation has become so dire that a large international intervention is now necessary to restore order.
Foote suggests that a mission involving between 5,000 and 10,000 police officers, led by a major economy with experience in police-capacity building, such as the US, Canada, Britain, France, or another EU country, is required. He dismisses the planned deployment of 2,000 Kenyan police officers to Haiti as insufficient and potentially dangerous. As the violence escalates and potential successors to Henry vie for power, an unexpected figure has emerged on the scene. Nayib Bukele, the authoritarian leader of El Salvador known for his hardline stance against gangs, has offered to help. Bukele has garnered praise for his tough approach to combating gangs in El Salvador and believes that with the right support, Haiti’s crisis can be resolved.
Caribbean leaders are set to convene in Kingston, Jamaica, on Monday to discuss the ongoing crisis in Haiti. The chair of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) group, Guyana’s president Mohamed Irfaan Ali, has expressed determination to assist their Haitian counterparts in finding a political solution. The situation in Haiti has reached a critical point, with President Ali highlighting that more lives have been lost in Haiti this year than in Ukraine. The international community must take this crisis seriously and act swiftly to prevent further bloodshed and instability in the Caribbean nation.
The situation in Haiti remains fluid and uncertain. As the US airlifts its embassy staff to safety, the fate of the country hangs in the balance. The international community must come together to provide the necessary support and resources to restore order and stability in Haiti. Failure to do so could have far-reaching consequences, not only for the Haitian people but for the entire region. The time for action is now, and the world must rally behind Haiti in its hour of need.