Haiti Roundup: Civil war threat, 4,733 prisoners on the run, deployment of soldiers

Seizure of International Airport

Intense weapon fires were reported in the vicinity of Toussaint Louverture International Airport on the evening of March 5, causing anxiety among residents in nearby neighbourhoods. The gunfire was part of a series of incidents involving armed groups attempting to seize control of airport facilities. This violence, aimed at various public institutions, including the Guy Malary terminal, is believed to be part of a series of activities to prevent the return of Prime Minister Ariel Henry to Haiti, reports media agency Alter Presse. Henry's attempts to return from travels abroad have so far been unsuccessful.

4,733 prisoners on the run

According to the Office for Citizen Protection (OPC), a total of 4,733 prisoners fled from the prison during attacks by armed gangs on March 2, 3, and 4. The OPC expressed alarm over the escalating insecurity, particularly in Port-au-Prince, reports local media Le National. The OPC criticized the authorities' indifference towards the incidents and lamented the lack of security reinforcement near the detention centres amid the crisis. The OPC highlighted the threat posed by escapees to judicial officials and called for measures to protect the remaining prisoners.

UN response

In response to the escalating security crisis in Port-au-Prince, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for urgent action in Haiti and financial support for the Multinational Security Support Mission (Mmas). He also urged the de facto government and political factions to agree on measures for democratic restoration through elections. Guterres reiterates the need for international support to combat gang violence, reports media agency Alter Presse.

US will not deploy soldiers

John Kirby, White House National Security Communications Advisor, informed reporters that high-level U.S. government officials maintained close contact with Haitian government officials and international partners over the weekend to stabilize the situation and pursue a lasting political solution. Following 72 hours of diplomatic engagement, the Biden administration will not deploy American troops in Haiti to support the Haitian National Police's security operations, local media Haiti Libre reported. Instead, they are mobilizing urgent support for Haiti. The United States will also not provide a military plane to accompany the Prime Minister and his delegation to Haiti, who have been stranded in the USA since March 2 due to the temporary suspension of commercial flights to Haiti.

Civil war threat

Gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue, issued a threat of a potential civil war if contested Prime Minister Ariel Henry remained in power amidst Haiti's escalating violence. Chérizier, who leads an alliance of armed gangs called "the G9 family" and its allies, warned of dire consequences if Henry did not resign and if the international community continued to support him, reports local media Haiti Loop. The gangs, controlling important parts of Haiti and the capital, intensified attacks against infrastructure and strategic sites during Henry's trip abroad. Chérizier, a former police officer sanctioned by the UN, said Haiti would either become a paradise or a hell for all its inhabitants.