The latest wave of violence to engulf Haiti – including a mass jailbreak and deadly protests – has allowed criminal gangs to tighten their grip on key urban areas, plunging the country further into chaos and testing the limits of the transitional government.
Haiti is facing one of the most serious security crises in its history, as criminal gangs continue their assault on law and order.
On 31 March, the prison in Mirebalais, a city 60 kilometres northeast of the capital Port-au-Prince, was stormed by the gang coalition "Viv Ansanm" – meaning "Live Together" in Haitian Creole.
The incident, which saw more than 500 prisoners escape, has underscored the growing power of armed groups and the inability of the authorities to curb their influence.
The assault on Mirebalais began with an attack on a police station, which was partially set on fire, forcing officers to retreat. The violence then spread to the prison, leading to the mass breakout of inmates.
As the city descended into chaos, the local hospital struggled to function amid the panic. "So far, the hospital has not been attacked or threatened, but the panic that has gripped the city has caused most of our patients to flee and most of the staff to self-evacuate," explained Ralph Blondel Charles, director of crisis alert and response at the Zanmi Lasante NGO.
"For the moment, we don’t have many staff members left at the hospital. Right now, we are in the process of assessing the least critical patients so that we can transfer them and see how we can keep only the non-transferable patients, who cannot be disconnected and who are on a breathing apparatus," he said.
Arms from Dominican Republic
The Haitian National Police claim to have regained control of the city, but reports indicate a lack of coordination among security forces.
There are fears that the gangs could take full control of Mirebalais, a strategic location which connects Port-au-Prince with the north and the Dominican Republic.
Speaking to RFI in Haiti, security expert Diego da Rin warned that the gangs are intensifying their efforts to control key supply routes, particularly for weapons and ammunition smuggling: "This is not the first time they have attacked this city, but these attacks seem to be of a somewhat unprecedented intensity," he explained.
"They are really trying to take this city, which is very strategic for them. It's located on a national road that connects the city with the north of the country, but also with the Dominican Republic where, on this road, there are illegal flows of arms and ammunition that allow them to increase their arsenal and gain the upper hand over the security forces."
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Protests in Port-au-Prince
The unrest in Mirebalais is part of the broader crisis gripping Haiti, where gangs have been gradually expanding their influence across Port-au-Prince. They already control approximately 85 percent of the capital.
On Wednesday, thousands of people took to the streets in protest, demanding action against the rising tide of insecurity. Demonstrators came from various districts and marched with machetes, banners and palm fronds.
What began as a peaceful demonstration quickly turned violent, with gunfire erupting near government buildings. Armed protesters clashed with police, sending the crowd into a panic. Flaming barricades blocked roads as chants of "Let’s go and get them out!" echoed through the city.
Security forces struggled to contain the unrest, and as the situation escalated residents expressed their frustration with the transitional government. Protesters accused the authorities of corruption, incompetence and even collusion with the gangs.
The administration of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, appointed in November, is facing mounting pressure to take decisive action.
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The recent surge in violence is not an isolated event, but part of a broader pattern of instability that has plagued Haiti for years.
The UN-backed Multinational Security Support Mission, led by Kenya, was deployed in an effort to support the Haitian National Police, but its presence has done little to stem the violence. With just 40 percent of the planned 2,500 personnel in place, the mission remains under-funded and ill equipped.
UN secretary-general António Guterres has called for increased international support, urging the global community to provide the necessary resources, logistics and personnel to combat the crisis.
However, the response has been slow, and in the meantime Haitians continue to suffer.
More than 700,000 people are displaced in Haiti, according to the UN
'An open-air prison'
Beyond the immediate threat of violence, the ongoing conflict has led to a humanitarian disaster. The recent violence has displaced more than 60,000 people in just one month, with many fleeing to safer areas or makeshift camps.
A recent UN report revealed that more than 4,200 people were killed in Haiti between July and February, with thousands more injured.
The judicial system has been paralysed, businesses have been forced to close and schools have become battlegrounds.
William O’Neill, the UN human rights commissioner’s expert on Haiti, described Port-au-Prince as an "open-air prison", noting that there is no safe way to enter or exit the capital other than by helicopter.
"Gangs are invading previously safe neighbourhoods, killing and raping and burning houses, businesses, churches and schools," he warned.
The crisis has also had economic repercussions. In a further blow to Haiti’s struggling economy, the United States recently imposed a 10 percent tariff on Haitian exports, affecting key industries such as textiles and cosmetics.
