January 29, 2026
Tensions have risen in Limbé following a tragedy involving members of the Brigade for the Security of Protected Areas (BSAP in French). The Haitian National Police (HNP) announced on Saturday, November 8, the arrest of five of its agents after an incident that claimed the life of a motorcycle driver.
According to the Northern Departmental Directorate, one of the arrested agents, identified as Edner Étienne, is suspected of firing the fatal shot. “The police intervention was immediate,” stated the HNP, which said it intends to ensure that justice is served in what appears to be a case of police misconduct.
The emotional shock quickly turned into anger. Furious residents set fire to several public buildings, including the town hall, the DGI office, and the local BSAP base. In response to this wave of violence, the police lamented that “acts of vandalism against public buildings and property do not resolve interpersonal conflicts.”
The HNP said it was “deeply outraged” by the behavior of the agents, emphasizing that their actions “go against their duty to protect.” But for a population left to fend for itself amid abuses of authority and impunity, the incident has reignited a deep sense of injustice that official promises no longer seem able to calm.
