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In Bogota, Colombia, Haiti experienced a bold and alarming move by armed gangs trying to seize control of the country’s main international hub, Toussaint Louverture International Airport, on Monday. This incident marks the latest in a troubling spree of violence, notably following a massive prison break where over 3,800 inmates were set free from the country’s largest detention facilities.
The gangs, engaging in a violent showdown with the police and military forces, targeted the airport during a time it was shut, with no flights or passengers present. This confrontation came just hours after the gang members orchestrated a massive escape, prompting authorities to enforce a night curfew and a commitment to recapture the fugitives, many of whom are wanted for severe crimes.
This surge in violence unfolds as Prime Minister Ariel Henry is abroad in Kenya, negotiating the deployment of 1,000 Kenyan police officers to help regain control over the chaotic situation in Haiti. In his absence, gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, also known as Barbecue, has openly declared intentions to block Henry’s return to the nation, further destabilizing the security situation.
Since Thursday, the violence has resulted in at least nine deaths, including four police officers. The United Nations reports that around 15,000 people have been displaced by the recent upheaval, prompting the United States to urge its citizens to evacuate Haiti immediately and Canada to temporarily shutter its embassy there.
Haiti has been ensnared in a devastating cycle of gang violence, dramatically escalating after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. Gangs now dominate as much as 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, inflicting terror through murders, kidnappings, and other violent acts, with the nation’s under-resourced police force struggling to combat the growing menace.– Web Desk