Chaos grips Haiti as a State of emergency is declared
Channel: PulsePress
Date: 2024-03-04

In what way does Haitis situation prompt reflection on broader issues of global inequality, social justice and post-colonial legacy?
Chaos grips Haiti as a state of emergency is declared following a daring prison break.
Armed gangs, in a bold move, breached a major Port-au-Prince prison, resulting in at least 12 fatalities and the escape of approximately 3,700 inmates.
The violence didn't stop at the prison walls; other police stations were targeted in a strategic distraction, culminating in the jailbreak.
The mastermind behind this turmoil, gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, known as "Barbecue", has openly challenged Prime Minister Ariel Henry's leadership, uniting gangs with one goal: Henry's resignation.
The political landscape in Haiti is as volatile as ever. With Prime Minister Henry abroad, gangs controlling 80% of the capital seized the moment to strike.
The government's response: a night-time curfew and a declaration that these acts of "disobedience" threaten national security.
Yet, as the doors of the prison remained open, the absence of law enforcement painted a grim picture of a country in crisis.
Claude Joseph, head of the opposition, described Haiti as living through a "nightmare," criticizing Henry's reluctance to step down amidst widespread protests.
The international community is on high alert. The US embassy has urged American citizens to leave Haiti "as soon as possible," while the French embassy has suspended visa services.
The violence, which has escalated since President Jovenel Moïse's assassination, has left the nation without a leader and elections in limbo.
With over 8,400 victims of gang violence last year, the UN's report underscores the dire situation, as Haiti's people cry out for an end to the bloodshed and political chaos.