2024 Haitian jailbreak

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Battle of Port-Au-Prince (2024)[1]
Part of the Gang war in Haiti and the Haitian crisis (2018–present)

Map of Haiti
Date28 February 2024 – present[2]
Location
Mainly Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Result

Ongoing

Belligerents
Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies

Haitian security forces


Armed civilians
Commanders and leaders
Jimmy Chérizier
Guy Philippe		 Haiti Ariel Henry
Haiti Michel Patrick Boisvert
Casualties and losses
38 dead,[3] 15,000 homeless, 362,000 displaced[4][5][6][7]

In March 2024, armed gangs stormed the two largest prisons in Haiti, resulting in more than 4,700 inmates escaping. The gangs demanded that prime minister Ariel Henry resign. The Haitian government declared a 72-hour state of emergency and a nighttime curfew in Ouest Department in an attempt to curb the violence and chaos. On 12 March 2024, Henry indicated his intention to resign as prime minister in response to the deteriorating security situation.[8]

Background[edit]

On 1 March 2024, Haitian prime minister Ariel Henry traveled to Kenya and signed an agreement designed to circumvent the Kenyan high court's earlier ruling declaring the UN-backed operation to ensure Haitian security as unconstitutional under Kenyan law.[9]

Events[edit]

Jimmy Chérizier, the leader of the "G9 Family and Allies" gang in Port-au-Prince, released a video announcing his intention to prevent Ariel Henry from returning to Haiti with the operation. On 1 March, when asked if it was safe for him to return to Haiti, Henry shrugged.[10] Chérizier apparently had the backing of some other gangs as part of a coalition named "Viv Ansanm", Haitian Creole for "living together". Though that coalition was quick to dissolve, other gangs launched attacks, together with Chérizier's G9 gang.[11] On 1 March, gunfire at the airport caused damage to some of the airliners.[12]

On 2 and 3 March, armed gangs stormed the two largest prisons in Haiti, one in Croix des Bouquets, the other in Port-au-Prince.[13] More than 4,700 inmates escaped.[10] Police were reported to be undermanned and outgunned by the gangs, with only 9,000 operating in Haiti at the time of the fighting.[14] The 400 Mawozo gang operates in the Croix-des-Bouquets area and has influence at its prison, according to Insight Crime.[15] Chérizier, who took responsibility for the surge in violence, said his goal was to capture Haitian government officials, including the police chief.[16] Over 12 people have been killed in the conflict.[13] The UN estimates that 15,000 people have fled the violence in Port-au-Prince.[16]

The Haitian government, under finance minister Michel Patrick Boisvert, declared a 72-hour state of emergency and a nighttime curfew in an attempt to curb the violence and chaos.[17] Chérizier claimed responsibility for the increase in attacks, and demanded Henry's resignation, adding that the goal of the increase in attacks was to capture important government officials, including the police chief.[9] Many escaped gang leaders joined the attacks,[18] fueling speculation that an alliance between rival gangs in the Haitian gang wars was forming to overthrow the Haitian elite.[19]

On 4 March, at around 1 p.m. local time, armed gangs attacked the heavily fortified Toussaint Louverture International Airport, exchanging gunfire with police and the Haitian Armed Forces, in an attempt to take control of the facility after rumors that Henry would return to Haiti,[20] fueling speculation that an alliance between rival gangs is forming to overthrow the Haitian elite.[19] In particular, Johnson André, the leader of the 5 Seconds gang, appeared to be linked to the attacks.[10] Other riot leaders, including Guy Philippe, reportedly will try to take over the presidency of Haiti.[21] Flights were grounded as the airport was shut down. The Stade Sylvio Cator[22][23] and national bank[24] were attacked. Other public institutions, including schools and banks, have been closed.[25] There was another reported jailbreak on 5 March, leading to the death of three inmates. Haitian police were able to stop attempts at escape.[26][27][better source needed] On 6 March, a police station in Bas-Peu-de-Chose was attacked and burned down by gangs.[28]

On 7 March, the state of emergency in the Ouest Department, including a nightly curfew and bans on protests, was extended from three days to a month (3 April).[28]

On 8 March, gangs attacked two police stations near the National Palace,[29] as well as the palace itself,[30] and burned down the interior ministry.[31] The security perimeter around Toussaint Louverture International Airport was breached by gangs, while gunfire was heard throughout Port-au-Prince.[32]

On 9 March, gangs attacked and occupied the headquarters of the Institute of Social Welfare in Port-au Prince, while the government of the Dominican Republic announced plans to evacuate its officials and citizens from Port-au-Prince.[33]

On 21 March, one of the gang leaders, known only as Makandal, was killed by the bwa kale in Petion-Ville.[34] A day later, Ernst Julme, the leader of Delmas 95 who had escaped from prison earlier in the month, was killed by police in the same area. Julme's death was described as a significant setback for Cherizier in his attempts to take over Port-au-Prince.[35][36]

Reactions[edit]

International[edit]

Countries[edit]

  •  Colombia: The Colombian foreign ministry asked Haiti to provide "special protection" to the 18 ex-Colombian soldiers convicted of the assassination of Jovenel Moïse who remained in their cells during the jailbreak.[16]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Cornu, Jean-Michael; Rakovsky, Valentin; Rivas Pacheco, Guillermo (6 March 2024). "Gang activity in Haiti's Port-au-Prince". Princeton Clarion. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Haitian police spokesman says new gang attacks overwhelmed officers: 'The city center was at war'". AP News. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  3. ^ @MARADIOFM (12 March 2024). "Le @synapoha annonce le décès de deux policiers .:la policière Edwige Antoine qui était souffrante et Estinor Angelot qui est décédé la nuit dernière dans le dortoir du Sous-Commissariat de Delmas 62" [The @synapoha announces the death of two police officers: police officer Edwige Antoine who was unwell and Estinor Angelot who died last night in the cells of the Delmas Sub-Police Station 62] (Tweet) (in French) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ "Haiti: the government declares a state of emergency, at least 12 dead and 4 thousand prisoners escaped". Agenzia Nova. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Haiti violence displaces 15,000 already displaced people: UN". Macau Business. 6 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  6. ^ Mérancourt, Wildlore; Schmidt, Samantha (9 March 2024). "Haitians shot dead in the street and there's no one to take the corpses away". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Several embassies evacuate staff as Haiti sinks deeper in violence". Daily Sabah. Port-au-Prince. Agence France-Presse. 11 March 2024.
  8. ^ Hu, Caitlin Stephen (12 March 2024). "Haiti's leader to resign as gangs run rampant through country engulfed in crisis". CNN. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Kenya signs deal in attempt to rescue plan for deployment of 1,000 police officers to Haiti". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Coto, Dánica (4 March 2024). "There's chaos in Haiti. Powerful gangs are attacking key targets like prisons as alliances shift". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Haiti's capital paralysed by gunfire as gang boss threatens police chief and ministers". The Guardian. Associated Press. 29 February 2024. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  12. ^ Rios, Michael; Hu, Caitlin; Rogers, Jim; Akbarzai, Sahar; Lau, Chris (1 March 2024). "Gunfire near Haiti airport disrupts flights for second day". CNN. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  13. ^ a b Astier, Henri; Avagnina, Gianluca (3 March 2024). "Haiti violence: Haiti gangs demand PM resign after mass jailbreak". BBC News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Haitian police spokesman says new gang attacks overwhelmed officers: 'The city center was at war'". Associated Press. 1 March 2024. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  15. ^ "400 Mawozo". Insight Crime. 23 March 2022.
  16. ^ a b c Jones, Sam (4 March 2024). "Haiti declares state of emergency after thousands of dangerous inmates escape". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  17. ^ Sanon, Evans; Luxama, Pierre-Richard (3 March 2024). "Haiti declares a curfew as it tries to restore order after weekend jailbreak, explosion of violence". Associated Press. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  18. ^ Charles, Jacqueline (4 March 2024). "Haiti has deployed its army; troops joined police to push back gang takeover of airport". Miami Herald. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  19. ^ a b Taylor, Luke (4 March 2024). "Haiti's weekend of violence puts government future in doubt". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  20. ^ Charles, Jacqueline (4 March 2024). "Haiti has deployed its army; troops joined police to push back gang takeover of airport". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  21. ^ Berg, Matt; Toosi, Nahal; Ward, Alexander (5 March 2024). "'Catastrophic' fears in Washington as Haiti crisis worsens". Politico. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  22. ^ Wyss, Jim (4 March 2024). "Violent Prison Break Sparks Murder, Mayhem in Haiti". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  23. ^ Sanon, Evans; Luxama, Pierre-Richard (3 March 2024). "Haiti declares a curfew as it tries to restore order after weekend jailbreak, explosion of violence". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  24. ^ Sanon, Evans; Luxama, Pierre-Richard (3 March 2024). "Haiti declares a curfew as it tries to restore order after weekend jailbreak, explosion of violence". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  25. ^ Sanon, Evens; Goodman, Joshua; Coto, Dánica (5 March 2024). "Haitian prime minister lands in Puerto Rico as he tries to return home to quell gang violence". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  26. ^ @NouvellesA1 (6 March 2024). "Deux morts et cinq blessés. Tel est le bilan des victimes lors de la tentative d'évasion à la prison civile de Jacmel dans la nuit du 5 mars 2024. L' information a été confirmée par le directeur départemental de la police du Sud-Est, Serge Allande Jolicoeur. #NouvellesDesAmériques" [Two dead and five injured. These were the casualties of the attempted escape from Jacmel civil prison on the night of 5 March 2024. The information was confirmed by Serge Allande Jolicoeur, Departmental Director of the South-East Police. #NewsFromAmericas] (Tweet) (in French) – via Twitter.
  27. ^ @Radio_Metronome (6 March 2024). "Update : Tentative d'évasion à la prison civile de Jacmel. 3 morts et 6 blessés, selon le Directeur départemental de la PNH dans le Sud-est. D'après Serge Allande Jolicoeur, la prison avait 700 détenus. À la question de savoir comment ces prionniers ont pu trouver la mort, le Directeur départemental n'était pas en mesure de donner des détails.#metronomehaiti" [Update: Attempted escape from Jacmel civil prison. 3 dead and 6 injured, according to the Departmental Director of the PNH in the South-East. According to Serge Allande Jolicoeur, the prison had 700 inmates. When asked how the prisoners died, the Departmental Director was unable to give any details. #metronomehaiti] (Tweet) (in French) – via Twitter.
  28. ^ a b "Haiti extends state of emergency as violence and displacement soar". Al Jazeera. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  29. ^ Rios, Michael; Roth, Richard; Akbarzai, Sahar; Lau, Chris (9 March 2024). "Haiti crisis: Armed men attack police stations near National Palace as gang violence spirals". CNN. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  30. ^ Rivers, Matt (8 March 2024). "Gangs attack Haiti's national palace in Port-au-Prince: Source". ABC News. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  31. ^ Wyss, Jim (9 March 2024). "Haitian Gangs Torch Ministry as Nation Descends Into Lawlessness". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  32. ^ "Intensos tiroteos se registran en el entorno del Palacio Presidencial de Haití". Cooperativa.cl (in Spanish). EFE. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  33. ^ "República Dominicana planea evacuar a sus funcionarios y de otros países de Haití" [Dominican Republic plans to evacuate its officials and other countries from Haiti] (in Spanish). 9 March 2024.
  34. ^ "Suspected Haiti gang members set on fire as conflict spreads to capital suburb". NBC News. 21 March 2024.
  35. ^ "Prominent Haitian gang leader shot dead by police as political groups near finalisation of transition council". Sky News. 22 March 2024.
  36. ^ "Violence Rises In Haiti, Gang Leader Killed As Transition Council Close To Being Established". Arise News. 22 March 2024.

Sources[edit]

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