May 8, 2025
Public outrage over the Transitional Presidential Council’s (TPC) failure to curb gang violence reached a boiling point on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. In response to a call from civil society groups in Canapé-Vert and community self-defense units, thousands of protesters attempted to march on Port-au-Prince to demand the resignation of transitional authorities deemed incapable of restoring public security.
From the early morning hours, neighborhoods such as Pétion-Ville and Delmas witnessed a surge of unrest. Burning tires, stones, and debris blocked major roads, while sporadic gunfire and clashes with police fueled panic throughout the capital.
In Delmas 95, armed individuals reportedly overpowered a police patrol, demanding the withdrawal of security forces. Police responded with tear gas near sites like Saint-Jean Bosco Church, dispersing crowds amid rising tensions.
The main march, which set out from Canapé-Vert with the goal of reaching downtown Port-au-Prince, was ultimately cut short. Organizers halted the protest in Bois-Vert, citing heavy police presence and the risk of infiltration by armed elements.
Eyewitnesses say the decision was made to avoid a violent crackdown, as the protest grew in size with displaced people from informal camps—including in Bois-Verna—joining in to demand urgent solutions to gang violence.
Port-au-Prince came to a standstill throughout the morning: shops shuttered, schools emptied, and key routes—like Delmas 32, Pétion-Ville, and Pan-American Avenue—remained blocked. By midday, relative calm returned, but the anger lingers. Protesters have vowed to keep up the pressure
