December 23, 2024
After unconfirmed rumors spread on the internet that gangs had taken over the areas around the State Hospital minutes after Prime Minister Garry Conille visited it a couple of weeks ago, chaos has once again spread in the area that was once controlled by gangs.
In a joint press release published by the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission Force Commander and the Director General of the Haitian National Police, it was acknowledged that shots were fired toward the end of the Prime Minister’s visit on Monday, July 29th, in the general area of the State Hospital.
“The Prime Minister was accompanied by CNN for coverage, and towards the end of his interview, two shots were heard from nearby neighborhoods,” according to the press release published on Monday, July 29, 2024.
It is stated that officers from the Prime Minister’s security detail fired shots to provide cover for the PM. However, according to several videos circulating on the internet about the incident, a much more dramatic scene took place. The Prime Minister’s security motorcade was seen fleeing one after the other, while another video showed members of the Haitian National Police shooting and then running to take cover.
While the press release states that the hospital is still under the control of the MSS and the Haitian National Police, it is unclear if gangs control the surrounding areas.
This is Prime Minister Conille’s second visit to the area. This time, the security contingent was met with great force by what can only be assumed to be gangs. In a recent address to the nation, Prime Minister Conille ordered the gang members to put down their weapons and recognize the authority of the state. Despite saying that the state will take over gang-controlled areas “house by house, neighborhood by neighborhood, and city by city,” no concrete actions have been taken thus far.
On July 17, Prime Minister Conille declared a state of emergency in 14 communes controlled by gangs and where operations will begin. At the moment, no details are known about this operation nor the actions of the MSS and HNP in quelling the insecurity that dominates 80% of the capital city of Port-au-Prince.