Overview:
The Haitian government decreed a state of emergency after armed gangs attacked the National Penitentiary, resulting in the escape of over 3,000 prisoners, two days of tension during which the bandits killed four police officers and set fire to police stations.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — The Haitian government has declared a state of emergency in an attempt to restore order around the capital city following three days of deadly violence by armed gangs, including attacks on two prisons that set free 3,600 inmates. The government also decreed a curfew throughout the Department of the West, where the capital is located, that forbids anyone from being outdoors between 6 p.m. and 5 a.m., Mar. 4 to 6.
“Law enforcement has been ordered to use all legal means at their disposal to enforce the curfew and apprehend all violators,” read in a note from the government signed by interim Prime Minister Patrick Michel Boivert. “This measure does not apply to on-duty public force agents, firefighters, ambulance drivers, duly identified health personnel and journalists.”
The government said the measures are a response to latest attacks against the country’s two largest penitentiaries and ongoing criminal acts that have caused displacement, kidnappings, assassinations, sexual violence, and looting and theft of public and private property. The prison attacks specifically constitute “acts of disobedience to law enforcement and jeopardize national security.”
Since Feb. 29, Port-au-Prince has awakened to widespread panic after a new gang alliance called “Viv Ansanm,” Live United in English, whose attacks killed four police officers, injured three others, set fire to various police stations and caused several injuries among the civilian population.
US bars travel to Haiti
Over the past three days, local media has been broadcasting SOS messages from residents in the worse affected areas. Gunfire can be heard in the Croix-des-Bouquets commune, Tabarre, and downtown Port-au-Prince, not far from the national penitentiary attacked by the gangs. Panic has paralyzed all activities in the capital, interrupting commercial flights and prompting several foreign embassies, including the United States Embassy, to suspend operations and call on their citizens to leave Haiti.
“Do not travel to Haiti,” says the U.S. Embassy in Haiti in a Security Alert on Mar. 4. “If you are a U.S. citizen in Haiti, depart Haiti as soon as possible by commercial or other privately available transportation options.”
“Law enforcement has been ordered to use all legal means at their disposal to enforce the curfew and apprehend all violators.”
Haitian Government
Officials at the U.S. Embassy say they are taking these measures in light of the current security situation and infrastructure challenges. According to the embassy, operations may be further affected during the week because of gang-related violence on transportation and infrastructure.
“Persons with scheduled appointments for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday should not attempt to come to the Embassy,” said embassy officials. “Conditions may not allow the U.S. Embassy to admit persons who arrive on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.”
Haitian government promises to act
In a press release, the Haitian government promised to support the national police in tracking down escaped prisoners and arresting those responsible, along with their accomplices.
“Our police officers […] did not manage to prevent the bandits from releasing a large number of prisoners,” the government said, without giving any figures on inmates. “This assault on these prison centers left several prisoners and Prison Service staff injured.”
Arnel Rémy, a human rights attorney whose nonprofit works inside the prison, sais on X that fewer than 100 of the more than 3,000 inmates remained behind bars. Among those who remained, there were the 18 Colombians involved in the assassination of Jovenel Moïse, who was transferred to the judicial police facility (DCPJ) on Sunday.
No numbers have been provided about prisoners who escaped from the Croix-des-Bouquets civil prison.
Among the notorious names of alleged criminals in the national penitentiary before the attack were Ezeckiel ‘Ze’ Alexandre from the ‘Baz Pilat’ gang, Hervé “Boutjanjan” Barthélemy from the Lasaline gang, Ernest ‘Greg95’ Julmé from the Delmas 95 gang, Albert “Jouma” Stevenson from the Simon Pelé gang.
The escalating violence coincides with Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s official visit to Kenya, aimed at discussions for a multinational mission against gangs in Haiti.