April 22, 2025
Intense tensions erupted on Thursday, February 20, 2025, in several neighborhoods of the metropolitan region of Port-au-Prince, including Delmas, Christ-Roi, Bourdon, and Lalue. Barricades were erected, and burning tires were placed on the roads, disrupting traffic and spreading panic. Heavy gunfire echoed through these areas, heightening fears among residents and workers, many of whom were forced to turn back to avoid getting caught in the chaos.
The root cause of this unrest stems from displaced residents of Solino and other affected areas demanding urgent measures from authorities to secure their original neighborhoods, which are now under the control of armed gangs. The fear and frustration of these citizens, exiled within their own country, led to these spontaneous protests, as they demand a safe return home. Meanwhile, other districts, particularly Carrefour-Feuilles, endured a night of extreme violence from Wednesday into Thursday. This latest assault by armed groups has plunged residents into terror.
Heavily armed attackers have sown chaos, with gunfire from assault rifles and explosions ringing out until early morning, leaving behind families in distress, forced to flee their homes. Witnesses report that gangs have taken strategic positions, blocking any attempts by residents to escape. This new wave of criminal offensives further deepens the already alarming humanitarian crisis in the capital, where many people have become internally displaced, desperately seeking refuge in neighborhoods that remain relatively untouched by the violence.
