Armed gangs in Haiti’s capital orchestrated the release of approximately 4,000 inmates from the country’s largest prison following a prolonged gun battle with police on Sunday.
According to reports from local media, the majority of the inmates held in the Port-au-Prince jail successfully fled. Many among them were gang affiliates facing charges related to the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise.
The assault on the prison unfolded over the weekend as Prime Minister Ariel Henry departed Haiti for a visit to Kenya, seeking support in addressing domestic gang-related issues.
Gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, a former police officer, rallied various armed factions to challenge Henry’s government. The coordinated attacks targeted both the National Penitentiary and the nation’s primary container port.
Henry, who had pledged to resign by the end of February, emphasized the need to quell gang violence before ensuring the conduct of free and fair elections. Despite the challenges, he managed to broker an agreement during his visit to Kenya. This agreement involved Kenya committing to dispatch 1,000 police officers to Haiti to assist in combating the ongoing surge in gang activity.
The accord signed between Kenya and Haiti underscores a concerted effort to address the pressing security concerns facing Haiti. Kenyan President William Ruto, alongside Prime Minister Henry, presided over the signing of reciprocal agreements between the two nations, signaling a joint commitment to tackling the root causes of instability and violence in Haiti.