The Haitian government has declared a state of emergency after calls for a coup and violent clashes. The government in Port-au-Prince announced on Sunday that a curfew will come into effect immediately for “a period of 72 hours, which may be extended”.
The emergency decree follows a dramatic escalation of violence last weekend, which paralyzed parts of the capital. Serious shootings had panicked the population in recent days. Gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, a former police officer, had called on criminal groups to join forces to overthrow Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Henry, who came to power in 2021 after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, had previously agreed to step down in early February. He later announced that security must first be restored to ensure free and fair elections. Cherizier heads a gang alliance and is subject to UN and US sanctions.
Armed groups attacked the country’s largest prison on Sunday evening. It remained unclear how many prisoners escaped. It’s likely an “overwhelming” majority, people familiar with the matter say. According to the human rights organization RNDDH, there were 3,687 prisoners in the prison intended for 700 people in February last year.
According to the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM), almost 15,000 people have had to leave their homes in recent days. Haiti is considered the poorest country in Latin America.
Source: Krone
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