Armed groups in Haiti’s capital released about 4,000 inmates from the country’s largest prison on Sunday after days of gun battles with police.
According to local media reports, the majority of the 4,000 inmates in Port-au-Prince prison have successfully escaped. Many of the prisoners were gang members indicted in connection with the 2021 assassination of Hatian President Jovenel Moise.
Armed gangs launched an attack on the prison this weekend as Prime Minister Ariel Henry departed for a visit to Kenya seeking support in the fight against gangs in the country.
Gang leader and former police officer Jimmy Cherizier called on various armed organizations to overthrow Henry’s government. The gangs attacked both the national prison and the country’s main container port.
Haitian leader heads to Kenya in hopes of reviving anti-gang police plan
Armed groups in Haiti’s capital released about 4,000 inmates from the country’s largest prison on Sunday after days of gun battles with police. (Getty Images)
“We are all united, both the armed groups in the provincial cities and the armed groups in the capital,” Chéridier said.
Mr Henry had vowed to resign by the end of February, but insisted gang violence needed to be overcome to hold free and fair elections.
Haitian government announces signing of anti-gang task force agreement with Kenya
Haiti has not held an election since 2016.
Mr Henry had vowed to resign by the end of February, but insisted gang violence needed to be overcome to hold free and fair elections.
Henry successfully negotiated a deal in Kenya on Friday.
Burnt-out sugarcane fields make Haiti’s rum industry the latest victim of the country’s gang crisis
Kenya had agreed in October to send a UN-recognized international police force to Haiti, but the Kenyan High Court in January ruled against the plan, citing a lack of mutual agreement between the two countries. It was ruled unconstitutional.
Last week’s agreement ensured that Kenya would send 1,000 police officers to the troubled Caribbean nation to help in the ongoing fight against gang violence.
Kenya will send a detachment of 1,000 police officers to the troubled Caribbean nation to help in the ongoing fight against gang violence. (Getty Images)
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Kenyan President William Ruto said in a statement that he and Henry witnessed the signing of a reciprocal agreement between the two countries on Friday.
Reuters contributed to this report.
