What's happened
Haiti is in turmoil as violent gang attacks have paralyzed the capital, Port-au-Prince. Gang leader Jimmy Cherizier plans to capture the police chief and government ministers, while Prime Minister Ariel Henry is abroad finalizing a foreign armed force deployment to combat the gangs. Gunmen have attacked the main international airport and other targets, leading to widespread violence and chaos. The situation escalated with armed groups storming the largest prison and a subsequent state of emergency declaration. The ongoing gang violence has left the country in a state of crisis.
Why it matters
The violent gang attacks in Haiti have plunged the country into a state of crisis, with widespread unrest and chaos. The targeting of key institutions and the declaration of a state of emergency have severe implications for the stability and security of the nation. The situation not only threatens the safety of Haitian citizens but also raises concerns about the effectiveness of law enforcement and the government's ability to maintain order. The international community's response and the outcome of efforts to combat the gangs will have far-reaching consequences for Haiti's future.
What the papers say
The Guardian reports on the ongoing gang violence in Haiti, highlighting the attacks on police stations and the state of emergency declaration. Al Jazeera provides insight into the state of emergency extension and the challenges faced by the national police in containing the violence. The Independent covers the political power struggle in Haiti, with armed gangs targeting key institutions and the prime minister's efforts to address the crisis. France 24 discusses the escalating gang violence and the threats of civil conflict, shedding light on the power dynamics and the impact on the country.
How we got here
Haiti has been grappling with political instability and gang violence for years, exacerbated by the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. The power vacuum left by his death has allowed organized gangs to gain control over significant parts of the country, leading to increased violence and insecurity. The recent wave of attacks, including the storming of the largest prison and the airport assault, has further destabilized the nation and raised concerns about the government's ability to maintain law and order. The ongoing crisis underscores the urgent need for international support and a comprehensive strategy to address the root causes of the violence.
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Ariel Henry is a Haitian politician and neurosurgeon who is the Prime Minister-designate of Haiti. He is the minister of interior and territorial communities since 2016.
On July 5, 2021, he was selected as the next prime minister of Haiti.
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Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti formerly founded as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, to the east of Cuba and Jamaica and south of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos
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Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier is a Haitian gang leader who is the head of the G9 gang, formally known as the G9 an fanmi e alye gang, a collective of nine Haitian gangs based in Port-au-Prince.
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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Port-au-Prince is the capital and most populous city of Haiti. The city's population was estimated at 987,310 in 2015 with the metropolitan area estimated at a population of 2,618,894.
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The Caribbean Community is an intergovernmental organisation of 15 member states throughout the Caribbean having primary objectives to promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, to ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably