Earlier this week, images emerged from inside Haiti revealing a security crisis fueled by escalating gang violence. The situation has taken a dire turn, with one gang leader warning of a potential genocide if Prime Minister Ariel Henry returns to the country. Henry, currently stranded outside Haiti, is unable to secure safe passage back home.
The United Nations reports that approximately 15,000 individuals have been forced to flee their homes due to the surging violence. Scenes of chaos and destruction are unfolding in Port-au-Prince, with banks being looted and ATMs smashed open. Powerful gangs have bombed several police stations, allowing them to roam freely through the streets.
The mounting anger is directed towards Prime Minister Henry, with a gang leader in the capital issuing a threat of genocide if he does not step down. Prior to the recent escalation, residents of Haiti expressed their frustrations and called for Henry's resignation. They have resorted to barricading their neighborhoods to protect themselves from potential gang kidnappings.
The whereabouts of Prime Minister Henry remain uncertain. He was last seen in Kenya, where he signed an agreement for the deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti. However, his journey back home has been obstructed, with officials in the Dominican Republic preventing his arrival. Despite calls for his resignation from the Biden administration, the White House has clarified that they are not pressuring Henry to step down.
The situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate, with gangs tightening their grip on the country. Security forces are struggling to maintain control, facing ammunition shortages and dwindling morale. With the Prime Minister absent during this critical period, police officers feel abandoned and overwhelmed.
