NEW DELHI: Armed groups are closing in on Haiti’s largest prison, defying the police forces who have requested assistance.
The prison, located in the capital city of Port-Au-Prince, is at risk of being overrun as a major gang leader, Jimmy Cherizier, seeks to overthrow PM Ariel Henry.
Two of the country’s main police unions have called for help to prevent high-profile criminals from escaping the National Penitentiary.The exact number of inmates who have fled is unknown, but it is believed to be significant.
Some detainees are hesitant to leave due to the fear of being caught in the crossfire. Reports indicate that police officers assigned to the prison have already left the premises.
Haiti’s government, which is the poorest country in the Americas, has not yet commented on the situation. The recent escalation in violence follows calls by gang leader Jimmy Cherizier for criminal groups to unite and overthrow Prime Minister Henry.
Cherizier, also known as Barbecue, leads an alliance of gangs and is facing international sanctions.
The National Penitentiary, designed to hold 700 prisoners, was already overcrowded with 3,687 inmates as of last February. Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the prison’s conditions and the lack of sufficient staffing.
This prison attack comes after reports of an attempted takeover of the capital’s main container port by armed men, causing disruptions in traffic. Gangs have also threatened to attack more police stations in the city.
Cherizier has warned residents to keep their children away from schools to avoid them being harmed in the violence.
Prime Minister Henry, who assumed power after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021, had initially planned to step down in early February. However, he later stated that security needs to be restored before free and fair elections can take place.