PORT-AU-PRINCE – Haiti has expanded its state of emergency to encompass the entire nation, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Garry Conille announced on Wednesday. This decision comes as the Caribbean country continues to grapple with violent gangs that have seized control of significant portions of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and are extending their influence into surrounding regions. The state of emergency was initially declared on March 3 in the Ouest department, which includes Port-au-Prince, under the administration of Conille’s predecessor, Ariel Henry. This measure was taken in response to a surge in violence that paralyzed the capital and led to two major prison breaks, resulting in the escape of thousands of inmates. The state of emergency has since been renewed multiple times and expanded to include other departments such as Artibonite, Centre, and Nippes, which have also experienced severe violence.
Prime Minister Conille stated that he has been actively involved in distributing materials and weapons to the Haitian army and national police to reclaim territories occupied by gangs. The announcement of the expanded state of emergency coincides with the upcoming visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is expected to discuss further steps in Haiti’s democratic transition. The United States is the largest contributor to a United Nations-backed security mission requested by Henry in 2022 to combat gang violence and restore order. In June and July, a contingent of 400 Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti as part of this mission, with additional pledges of at least 2,500 more troops from various countries. However, these additional forces have yet to arrive, and the mission’s mandate is set to expire at the beginning of October. The ongoing conflict has resulted in nearly 580,000 people being internally displaced, with hundreds of thousands deported back to Haiti. Additionally, close to 5 million people are facing severe hunger due to the instability. The situation remains critical as the Haitian government, supported by international efforts, continues to address the challenges posed by the gangs and work towards stabilizing the country.
The expansion
The expansion of Haiti’s state of emergency to cover the entire nation was announced just a day before U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s planned visit to the country. While the timing suggests a possible connection, the primary reason for the state of emergency is the ongoing violence and territorial control by gangs in various regions of Haiti. Blinken’s visit is expected to focus on discussing further steps in Haiti’s democratic transition and addressing the security situation, which aligns with the government’s efforts to stabilize the country.
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