Mass prison break and political turmoil: what’s happening in Haiti?
Tires on fire near the main prison of Port-au-Prince. Image credit: Luckenson Jean/AFP/Getty Images
On March 3rd, the government of Haiti declared a state of emergency as two major prisons in the country were broken into by armed gangs and around 3,000 criminals escaped. As citizens try to seek help from the government, Prime Minister Ariel Henry has fled from his position, leaving no one in charge of the government but a gang leader, Jimmy Chérizier, trying to take his place. Meanwhile, only 10,000 police officers are maintaining this chaotic condition with more than 11 billion people in the region. These incidents may seem shocking, but to understand the whole story, one must first look back at Haiti’s history.
After gaining its independence from France in 1804, Haiti has experienced political turmoil from foreign forces and regional conflict. Soon after it declared independence, the country was invaded by the U.S. and was controlled for another 20 years. Haiti also went through a long-term war with the neighbouring Dominican Republic, causing thousands of deaths. Democracy did not come to Haiti after the U.S.’s withdrawal. Instead, political leader François Duvalier and his son established a 29-year-long dictatorship. Finally, in 1986, national and worldwide pressures removed Duvalier from his position and the country established its constitution and other democratic institutions. Throughout these past incidents, Haitian gangs have had a substantial influence on the country’s politics. There has always been an unstable triangle of relationships between the gangs, the elites, and the government. They have been both allies and enemies. Most importantly, the gangs gradually gained their power from the constant power vacuum of the national government. As a result, many local gangs have the same level of power as the government, which rarely occurs in stabilised countries.
Ever since former president Jovenel Moise was assassinated in 2021, gangs have grown even stronger and have started to demand changes of the ruling power. For them and many others, Henry’s government does not have legitimacy since he took the position without an election. With frequent protests against Henry, they decided to mobilise people to join their “legitimate violence”. Currently, 80 percent of the capital is controlled by the major coalition of gangs led by Jimmy Chérizier, who is also nicknamed ‘Barbecue’. They are now targeting major infrastructures in the country, such as police stations and the international airport. Their goal is clear: to bring down Ariel Henry and establish a new government.
Chérizier has been calling for the removal of Henry since the beginning, but the gangs’ sudden mobilisation is related to the deal Henry made with Kenya during his visit to the country. The Prime Minister has been requesting international forces to help combat gang violence over the past few years. Last year, Kenya volunteered to strike a deal with Haiti that promised to send police forces to help maintain the country’s security. To stop Henry’s power from expanding, gangs in Haiti decided to take the initiative to control the country, leading to the prison break and latest power vacuum.
The continuing occupation of the gangs has trapped Haitians from escaping danger and blocked international aid. Numerous countries have been retreating officers from their embassies and many international aid groups have paused their work in Haiti too.
Haiti’s future is full of uncertainty. The national government is currently seeking international assistance again, but, as history has shown, it is not the silver bullet to this complex issue. Some have suggested that countries that have closer relationships with Haiti should take the lead, since they are more familiar with the country’s history and context. To truly restore peace in Haiti, both national and foreign politicians should not only come up with a solution for this incident, but also a concrete plan for the nation’s future development.