2024-03-01 01:30:00
Bandit groups paralyzed life in the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince, their leader announced his intention to “liberate” the country, the Associated Press reports.
Shooting in the city center and near the international airport began on Thursday, during the absence of the Prime Minister Ariel Henriwho is in Kenya trying to finalize the details of deploying a foreign armed contingent to Haiti to fight gangs.
The agency reports a video showing the leader of the Haitian gang known as G9. Jimmy Cherizier nicknamed “Barbecue”, announces that his goal is to prevent Henri from returning to Haiti.
“With our weapons and together with the Haitian people, we will liberate the country,” the agency quotes the bandit as saying.
The agency’s report showed armored vehicles patrolling empty streets in central Port-au-Prince and standing guard near gang-controlled slums. It is unclear whether Cherizier is supported by other major gangs, which are estimated to control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince.
Airlines on Thursday canceled all international and domestic flights from Port-au-Prince, whose airport came under gunfire, local newspaper Nouvelliste reported.
Haiti is experiencing a chronic socio-political crisis, which has worsened since the assassination of the president Jovenel Moise in the summer of 2021. Over the past year, the inaction of the authorities has led to an unprecedented increase in the influence of gangster groups that engage in extortion, kidnapping for ransom and control entire areas of the country, including fuel terminals.
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