Haiti's PM announces crackdown on street gangs

By James Blears

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henri declared his aim for homegrown military intervention, during a tour of the Country`s Armed Forces. The intention is to reinforce Haiti`s beleaguered Police Force, which is struggling against the sustained violence of various street gangs which control swathes of the country, particularly parts of the Capital Port Au Prince. The main oil terminal was blockaded there for several weeks, paralyzing the economy. The strategy is to use the two thousand-strong Military to countermand the gunmen who are running riot on the streets terrorizing the people. The systematic violence and extortion of the street gangs is seriously destabilizing the infrastructure and daily lives of the citizens in the Western Hemisphere`s poorest nation. 

Turmoil and chaos

Haiti was thrown into turmoil, following the assassination of President Jovenal Moise in 2021, by Colombian mercenaries who stormed the Presidential Residence. First Lady Martine Moise was seriously wounded but survived the attack. 

Henri`s latest pronouncement is in addition to the United Nations urging of the International Community to deploy a Force to try and restore law and order. It`s peacekeeping mission in Haiti concluded in 2017 and the situation since has since descended into chaos. 

The intention is to try to create a framework of stability leading to elections. 

In 2010 an earthquake devastated Haiti killing more than one hundred thousand people. There was another one last year causing yet more major structural damage and the further loss of many lives.