US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently in Jamaica for an emergency meeting to address the escalating crisis in Haiti. The US Embassy in Haiti has evacuated all non-essential personnel due to the surge in gang violence near the embassy's compound. There are growing concerns that the violence could spread beyond the capital area.
Secretary Blinken has been engaging with the Jamaican Prime Minister and other regional leaders to discuss the situation. Notably, Haiti's Prime Minister was absent from the meeting, prompting further speculation about the political dynamics within Haiti.
The US is urging Haiti's Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, to establish a transitional government, a move that Henry has previously resisted. Despite this, the US is prepared to deploy a force of approximately 1000 Kenyan soldiers to Haiti to help restore order and combat the violent gangs that are pushing the nation towards collapse.
Recent days have seen multiple embassies withdrawing their personnel from Haiti, citing security concerns. The US conducted a nighttime evacuation of non-essential personnel via military helicopter over the weekend and bolstered security measures to protect embassy staff.
Areas in and around Port-au-Prince, including the presidential palace and diplomatic compounds, have witnessed increased gang violence and coordinated attacks. The situation has left thousands of Haitians displaced, unable to access essential services or medical care, as the gangs continue to terrorize the population.
The gangs have explicitly opposed the return of Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the deployment of security forces, flouting both the country's constitution and international calls for an end to the violence. The outlook for Haiti remains grim, with no immediate signs of improvement in the ongoing crisis.
