Curfew and state of emergency for 72 hours: this was the response of the Haitian government following the attack on one of the main prisons in the capital, which led to the escape of thousands of inmates. This was decreed by an official government statement that established a 3-day alert period in the capital, Port-au-Prince, after armed groups, amidst escalating protests that began on February 29th, enabled the escape of over 3000 detainees, causing disorder and fear among the population.
THE EVENTS
The recent siege of the Port-au-Prince prison follows the latest developments, particularly the arrival of Prime Minister Ariel Henry in Kenya, the departure point for the international expedition organized to restore security in the country. According to official sources, once the agreement was signed, the Prime Minister attempted to come back but without success. After departing from New Jersey, Henry was forced to land in Puerto Rico due to airports closures caused by the chaos engulfing the country. At "home," armed groups led by Jimmy Chérizier, nicknamed "Barbecue", await his return. Regarding the recent offensive, the criminal gangs now united under the new acronym "Vivre Ensemble" have stated through social channels their intention to capture Henry upon his return. Particularly alarming is a statement from the gang leader, who allegedly stated, "Either the Prime Minister resigns or it will be a civil war leading to genocide".
In the action that stormed the Croix des Bouquets prison, numerous injuries were reported, and there were victims. "We have counted many bodies of detainees", said Pierre Espérance, executive director of the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (Rnddh). In an attempt to repel the gangs' offensive, even members of the prison administration staff sustained significant injuries. Although precise estimates are unavailable, according to newspaper reports, of the approximately 3800 inmates present before the attack, only about a hundred remain in the prison.
BACKGROUND
What occurred in the early days of March is unfortunately not an isolated event but rather the peak of the wave of violence that has engulfed Haiti (particularly its capital) since the death of former President Jovenel Moïse. Following his assassination in 2021, the government passed into the hands of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who, however, never received any constitutional approval from Parliament. Since the beginning of his term, Henry has been at the center of strong criticism for his inability to revive the economy of a country on the verge of collapse; dissent has intensified even more after the Prime Minister failed to hold elections for the appointment of a new Head of State, contrary to what was promised. Opposition groups continue to demand the Prime Minister's resignation, as stipulated in the agreement he signed on December 21, 2022.
According to UN estimates, in 2023 alone, approximately 5,000 killings were recorded, all attributable to the 92 gangs (this being the official number from the World Report by Human Rights Watch) which, gradually, have begun to take control of strategic areas of the country, spreading terror among the population through shootings and various forms of violence. These criminal gangs outnumber and outgun the local police forces, which often find themselves powerless in the face of murders or extortions by rebel groups. In what is considered the poorest nation in the Americas, the situation has worsened year after year, and the international community's efforts so far to restore order and alleviate the political and humanitarian crisis afflicting the country have had little effect.
THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Although it is a crisis that has not yet involved external actors, any action by other state entities, and foremost the UN, can prove crucial for the course of events. In this regard, on October 2nd, the United Nations Security Council, through a resolution, foresaw the creation of an International Mission with the aim of restoring security in Haiti. With 13 votes in favor and two abstentions (from Russia and China), the resolution established that the multinational operation involving over ten countries would last for an initial period of twelve months, with a reassessment to be conducted once the first nine months have elapsed. It was the Haitian government itself that strongly requested UN intervention, aware of the critical condition the country has been facing for the past two years.
Recently, the United States also intervened, knocking on Rome's doors to request Italian contribution to the multinational mission approved by the UN. Although initially cautious in response, the government of Giorgia Meloni, which does not inherently consider the Caribbean island within its sphere of interest, reportedly decided to collaborate. The commitment would be not to deploy troops on the ground but rather to train, on Italian territory (at the NATO Stabilizing Policing in Vicenza), some of the soldiers who will then be sent to Haiti; initially, the training is expected to focus on Kenyan military personnel, but it is not excluded that this "partnership" could be extended to other African countries later on.
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Translated by Stefania Errico
