Haitian Soldiers Deployed to Defend Port-au-Prince Airport from Armed Gang Assault
The Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, is currently facing a grave security threat as armed gangs attempt to assault the Toussaint Louverture Airport. Soldiers have been deployed to defend the airport and clashes between security forces and armed men have been reported. The primary objective of these gangs is to prevent the return of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who is currently believed to be abroad. The violence in Haiti has escalated in his absence, with the gangs demanding his resignation.
Prime Minister Henry left Haiti last week to attend a regional summit in Guyana and later traveled to Kenya to sign a deal on the deployment of a multinational police force to Haiti. While his current whereabouts are unknown, a spokesperson for the US State Department stated that they understand the prime minister is returning to Haiti.
During Prime Minister Henry’s absence, a coalition of gangs led by former police officer Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier launched an offensive, attacking police stations and storming two of Haiti’s largest prisons. This resulted in the death of about a dozen people and the escape of thousands of inmates who remain at large. In response, a minister standing in for Mr. Henry declared a 72-hour state of emergency.
The situation has led to the suspension of both international and national commercial flights for several days due to the ongoing violence. Even private planes have been unable to land or take off from the airport. Witnesses reported that security forces repelled an attempt by gunmen to breach the airport compound through a hole in a wall.
Control of the airport is crucial for the gangs’ objective of preventing Prime Minister Henry from returning to the country. Barbecue, the gang leader, has been calling for his removal since he assumed office as President Jovenel Moïse’s successor in July 2021. The already prevalent gang violence was further fueled by President Moïse’s assassination by Colombian mercenaries, which created a power vacuum in the country.
Armed gangs, armed with weapons smuggled in from the US, have gained control of approximately 80% of the capital in recent years. Prime Minister Henry has appealed to the international community for assistance in combating the gangs. However, a plan for Kenya to send 1,000 police officers to help contain the violence was blocked by the Kenyan High Court. Prime Minister Henry was in Nairobi for talks with Kenyan President William Ruto to salvage the deployment when the latest wave of violence erupted.
In a video posted on social media, Barbecue declared that their fight’s primary objective is to ensure that Ariel Henry’s government does not remain in power. On Saturday, his gang attacked several police stations and freed thousands of prisoners from the National Penitentiary and Croix des Bouquets jail. Only around 100 prisoners remained in their cells at the National Penitentiary, including 17 Colombian ex-soldiers suspected of assassinating President Moïse. These prisoners pleaded for help, stating that other inmates were pressuring them to leave their cells and intended to use them as “cannon fodder.” The Colombian foreign ministry later announced that the 17 suspects had been transferred to a different prison.
The violence has had a significant impact on the residents of Port-au-Prince, with many choosing to stay at home. Access to basic services such as healthcare, food, and water has become extremely difficult. Serge Dalexis from the International Rescue Committee, who is currently in Haiti, highlighted the lack of essential resources in Port-au-Prince and reported shootings in various areas of the city. Over the past few weeks, an estimated 15,000 people have been displaced from their homes due to the ongoing violence.
Haiti, with a population of approximately 11.5 million, is a Caribbean country that shares a border with the Dominican Republic. The official languages are French and Haitian Creole.
The situation in Port-au-Prince remains tense as armed gangs continue to pose a threat to the security and stability of the city. The deployment of soldiers to defend the airport is a crucial step in protecting the country’s infrastructure and preventing further violence. The international community’s assistance is urgently needed to address the escalating gang violence and restore peace and order in Haiti.
