Armed gangs stormed Haiti’s largest prison in Port-au-Prince, leading to the escape of the vast majority of the 4,000 men detained there. This mass jailbreak occurred amid a worsening security situation in Haiti, where gangs control an estimated 80% of the capital. These gangs have intensified their efforts to oust Prime Minister Ariel Henry, with notorious gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, also known as “Barbecue,” announcing a coordinated attack against the government.
The timing of the jailbreak coincides with Prime Minister Henry’s diplomatic trip to Nairobi, where he sought support for combating the gang crisis in Haiti. An agreement was reached for Kenya to send 1,000 police officers to assist Haiti, despite previous legal challenges in Kenya regarding the deployment.
Violence has surged in Haiti since the assassination of President Moïse, with the country failing to conduct elections or establish elected leadership. The United Nations reported a dramatic increase in gang-related violence, including killings, injuries, and kidnappings, significantly higher than the previous year’s figures.
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