2024-03-12 07:00:05
“Criminals have taken over the country. There is no government.” That is the situation in Haiti in the words of Bharrat Jagdeo, vice president of Guyana. The Caribbean Community (Caricom) wants to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the dramatic situation in Haiti, which worsens with each new event.
In Haiti, gangs have been attacking state institutions such as police stations, government buildings and prisons for days. There are reportedly bodies in the streets and hundreds of thousands of people have fled the country. In the surroundings of the capital, Port-au-Prince, a state of emergency and a night curfew have been declared. But the Police are barely present, which facilitates looting and vigilante crimes by vigilante groups.
In 2023, the United Nations estimated that 80% of Port-au-Prince was under the control of criminal gangs. Germany, the EU, the US and other countries have withdrawn their staff from embassies out of concern for their safety.
How did this situation come regarding?
The signs indicate an escalation, at least since February 7. Various political and social groups had set this date together with the Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, for the inauguration of a new government. However, Henry did not organize any elections. Instead, at the end of February, he proposed a new transition period until August 2025.
The fact that Henry did not announce this measure in Port-au-Prince, but at a Caricom summit in Guyana, undoubtedly fueled the current resentment. From there he traveled to Kenya; He is now in Puerto Rico. Many people in Haiti are calling for his return, others for his resignation. The latter fails due to Henry’s refusal; The former is not possible, supposedly, because the only international airport continues to be the target of gang attacks.
During Henry’s absence, the situation has deteriorated further: in early March, gang members raided two prisons and helped some 4,500 inmates escape.
Who is the boss of the “Barbacoa” gang?
Rival gangs have joined forces. The first and most important is an alliance of nine bands, the so-called “G9 Family and Allies.” It is directed by Jimmy Chérizier, nicknamed “Barbecue.” This former police officer is considered one of the most powerful men in Haiti. Last year, Chérizier cited Fidel Castro and Malcolm X, among others, as role models to a journalist from the magazine New Yorker. “I also like Martin Luther King, although he didn’t like fighting with weapons, but I did,” he noted.
Haiti, a former French colony, occupies the western third of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. To the east lies the Dominican Republic, once ruled by Spain. The population of both island states comes, in large part, from the western coast of Africa, and was enslaved and kidnapped on behalf of the colonizers. Haiti gained independence from France in 1804, following a decades-long revolution, and is the only country in the Western Hemisphere to successfully abolish colonial rule under the leadership of former slaves of African descent.
Since then, however, there have been many periods characterized by violence and instability, in which different ethnic groups have fought for supremacy.
Since the mid-20th century, the dictator François Duvalier propagated the disempowerment of the mestizo elite in favor of the majority black population. Under his leadership, violent gangs became a powerful parallel force to state power.
Another key event was the devastating earthquake of 2010, which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives: the weak State was barely able to alleviate its consequences, so the gangs were able to expand their radius of power beyond their traditional neighborhoods.
Unfulfilled elections, corruption and assassination
Popular discontent grew, and in 2019 it was increasingly directed once morest President Jovenel Moïse, accused of corruption. As a result of the protests, the next elections were not held and Moïse increasingly ruled by decree. In July 2021, Moïse was murdered by unknown assailants at his official residence. Since then, Ariel Henry, who had just been chosen by him as prime minister, has directed the country’s destinies, also as interim president. Since Moïse’s assassination, public order has come under even greater pressure. Therefore, Henry turned to the international community. In October, the UN Security Council decided to deploy a multinational security force led by Kenya.
What are the difficulties of the UN intervention force?
Kenyan President William Ruto proposed the deployment of up to 1,000 police officers months before the UN Security Council decision. But there are questions regarding the ability and legality of this mission to fight Haiti’s gangs.
Financing for the mission has not yet been finalized either: Joe Biden’s administration wanted to contribute up to $200 million. But it is doubtful that Republicans in the US Congress will support this project in the middle of the electoral campaign. As things stand, it remains to be seen how the international community will respond to Haiti’s request for help.
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