Over the past month, Haiti has descended into a state of turmoil, as anti-government protests, persisting for weeks, have reached a critical juncture. This week, the country has witnessed a distressing surge in violence, marked by intense clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. In the confrontations with criminal gangs controlling a significant portion of Port-au-Prince(the capital), four police officers lost their lives. Between Friday and Saturday, certain gang members attacked several police stations, the airport, and the country’s largest prison from which, according to the local newspaper Gazette Haiti, a “significant” number of detainees would have escaped. The protests are primarily directed against the government of Interim Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who was expected to organize new elections by February 7 but has delayed the process, arguing that they needed to restore stability in the country first.

The protests have intensified following Henry’s visit to Kenya, where with the U.N.’s support, he signed an agreement for a security mission to counter criminal gangs in his country. Jimmy Chérizier, the leader of the coalition comprising the nine most powerful gangs in Haiti, is spearheading a significant mobilization of Haitian criminal groups to overthrow Henry. Chérizier declared  a desire to “liberate the country with arms and the people.” In the past few days, the gangs have taken control of two police stations in Port-au-Prince, threatened to attack more, and blocked the main cargo hub of the port.

Additionally, over the weekend the gangs attacked the Port-au-Prince prison, which was designed to accommodate 800 detainees but is estimated to house more than 3,500. A police officer, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press stated that the gangs had overwhelmed the prison security forces, but had not yet taken control. Two Haitian law enforcement unions have called for the mobilization of the army and police forces to prevent the gangs from entering the prison. The prison is known to hold many organized crime leaders and individuals accused of the assassination of Former President Jovenel Moïse, who was killed in July 2021.

Haiti, one of the world’s poorest countries, has been grappling with severe political, social, and economic crises for a long time. The Haitian government has not commented on the on-going situation, and it is unclear when Henry is expected to return to Haiti. The violence in recent weeks significantly complicates efforts to restore any form of control in the country, especially in anticipation of potential elections. The last parliamentary and presidential elections in Haiti took place in November 2016, nearly ten years ago.

As we grapple with these distressing events, a resounding condemnation of violence, coupled with an ardent endorsement of effective and comprehensive peace processes, is imperative. Our organization staunchly opposes superficial strategies, advocating instead for concrete solutions to confront the intricate political, social, and economic challenges that Haiti faces.