The Haitian government declared a 72-hour state of emergency on Monday in response to armed gang attacks on two prisons, one located in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the other in the nearby Croix des Bouquets.
The jailbreaks resulted in at least 12 reported deaths, numerous others sustained injuries during the inmates’ escape. Approximately 3,700 inmates escaped, according to reports.
The surge in gang violence intensified, following calls for the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
Former police officer and gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, known as Barbecue, rallied various groups against Henry, who had rejected calls to step down on February 7, as per a political agreement.
Instead, Henry proposed an election at a later date, prompting increased opposition from groups controlling around 80% of Port-au-Prince.
Haiti has grappled with persistent gang violence, which worsened after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse at his home in July 2021, and Henry’s ascension to power. Elections to replace Moïse have not been held.
The country last went to the polls in 2016.
The recent attacks targeted two prisons and other police stations, strategically distracting authorities before the coordinated assault on the jails.
Port-au-Prince’s detained individuals included gang members implicated in President Moïse’s 2021 killing. Notably, Prime Minister Henry was out of the country when the violence escalated.
In a bid to address the security challenges, Henry traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, for talks with President Ruto, sealing a security deal that would facilitate the deployment of a 1000-strong Kenya-led multinational security force to Haiti.
January UN reports highlighted the severity of Haiti’s gang violence, with over 8,400 people killed, injured, and kidnapped in 2023 – more than double the figures recorded in 2022.
The 72-hour state of emergency will take immediate effect, as the government has vowed to apprehend perpetrators, and inmates who escaped the prisons during the attacks on Saturday.
The curfew will be in force from 6pm (23:00 GMT) until 5am (10:00 GMT).
“The police were ordered to use all legal means at their disposal to enforce the curfew and apprehend all offenders,” Finance Minister Patrick Boisvert, who is acting as prime minister while Ariel Henry, said in a statement on Monday.