April 18, 2025
Amid escalating violence in Port-au-Prince, the Institute for African Studies and Research of Haiti (IERAH/ISERSS in French) announced in a statement dated March 14, 2025, the immediate suspension of all in-person activities. Trapped by gang violence, the institution will now prioritize online learning and encourage professors to adapt to this new reality. This forced closure underscores the powerlessness of academic institutions in the face of the rapidly deteriorating security situation.
Avenue Christophe, home to several entities of the State University of Haiti (UEH in French), is now under the complete control of armed gangs. This dire situation recently forced the Faculties of Human Sciences and INAGHEI to suspend in-person classes. The sound of automatic gunfire echoes daily in the area, triggering a mass exodus of residents. Many buildings are now occupied by heavily armed individuals, turning what was once a vibrant academic hub into a hostile and inaccessible zone.
The closure of these two prominent institutions is yet another devastating blow to education in Haiti. It highlights not only the vulnerability of higher education establishments but also the glaring failure of authorities to protect spaces that are crucial for the country’s development.
