Haiti Imposes Nighttime Curfew After Surge in Violence and Prison Breaks
Haiti is facing a grave security crisis as violence and prison breaks continue to escalate, prompting the government to impose a nighttime curfew. The surge in violence reached a new low over the weekend, with gangs overrunning the country’s two largest prisons and freeing thousands of inmates. In response, a 72-hour state of emergency was declared, and authorities are determined to find and apprehend the escaped criminals.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry recently traveled abroad in an effort to garner support for a United Nations-backed security force to help stabilize Haiti. However, his absence has left the country vulnerable to the increasingly powerful crime groups that are wreaking havoc on the streets.
The weekend’s events marked a turning point in Haiti’s downward spiral of violence. Coordinated attacks by gangs targeted state institutions in Port-au-Prince, including the international airport and the national soccer stadium. At least nine people, including four police officers, lost their lives in these attacks. The assault on the National Penitentiary was particularly shocking, as nearly all of the estimated 4,000 inmates managed to escape. The prison, which is usually overcrowded, was left eerily empty, with no guards in sight.
Among the few who chose to remain in the prison were 18 former Colombian soldiers accused of involvement in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. In the midst of the chaos, some of these Colombians pleaded for their lives in a video widely shared on social media. They claimed that indiscriminate killings were taking place inside the cells. The Colombian government has called on Haiti to provide special protection for these men. Another prison in Port-au-Prince, housing around 1,400 inmates, was also overrun by gang gunmen.
The violence extended beyond the prisons, with gang members occupying and vandalizing Haiti’s top soccer stadium. Gunfire was reported in various neighborhoods, and internet service was disrupted due to damage to a fiber optic cable connection. The gangs have been coordinating their attacks and targeting institutions that were once considered untouchable, such as the Central Bank.
The United States Embassy in Haiti has responded to the deteriorating security situation by halting all official travel to the country and urging American citizens to leave as soon as possible. The Biden administration, while refraining from committing troops, is closely monitoring the situation and providing financial and logistical support.
The recent surge in violence follows violent protests that have grown increasingly deadly. Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who assumed office after President Moïse’s assassination, has repeatedly postponed parliamentary and presidential elections that have not taken place in almost a decade. Haiti’s National Police, with approximately 9,000 officers, is overwhelmed and outgunned by the gangs, who are believed to control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince.
One of the gang leaders responsible for the attacks is Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue, a former elite police officer. Chérizier has claimed responsibility for the violence and expressed his intention to capture Haiti’s police chief and government ministers, as well as prevent Prime Minister Henry’s return. Despite calls for his resignation, Henry, a neurosurgeon by profession, has shown no signs of stepping down and has not commented on whether he feels it is safe to return to Haiti.
The situation in Haiti remains highly volatile and dangerous. The government’s imposition of a nighttime curfew is an attempt to regain control of the streets and restore order. However, it will require a comprehensive and coordinated effort, both domestically and with international support, to address the root causes of the violence and bring stability back to the country.