December 23, 2024
On Friday, October 25, a night of horror gripped the neighborhood of Solino as armed gangs, led by the Viv Ansanm group, stormed Ti-Chérie, an area near the Péan market. This violent assault spread terror among residents, forcing them to flee their homes in flames, leaving behind belongings in a desperate bid to escape with their lives.
Tensions are at an all-time high, with smoke thickening the air, amplifying the weight of fear. A journalism student who narrowly escaped recounted the tragedy: “I could only grab my backpack and run for my life,” he shared, describing the shock of seeing his home engulfed in flames and feeling helpless against the devastation.
Despite the deployment of four military armored vehicles in an attempt to contain the situation, efforts were insufficient to halt the gang’s advance, and they succeeded in overtaking Ti-Chérie. Their territorial gain highlights their military strength, leaving the residents of Solino increasingly worried that their neighborhood, a symbol of resistance for nearly 20 months, may soon fall.
“They’ll attack again, it’s almost certain,” warned a Solino resident, voicing his fears for the future. He added that if Solino were to yield under gang pressure, nearby areas such as Nazon, Lalue, Haut Delmas, Bourdon, and even Pétion-Ville could be next on the list for these armed groups.
The growing power of gangs in the capital is pushing hundreds of families into forced displacement, exacerbating a security crisis that now seems unstoppable. As the gangs advance, parts of Port-au-Prince are gradually transforming into conflict zones, leaving residents trapped between violence and uncertainty.
As authorities and security forces struggle to keep up with the scale of the threat, worry is mounting over the fate of Solino and its surrounding areas. The community holds its breath, gripped by an unyielding anxiety in the face of a menace that continues to creep ever closer.