Three residents killed and two Haitian police officers injured in gang attack

PORT-AU-PRINCE — At least three people were killed and two police officers injured during an attack by the Bel-Air gang in Solino, northeast of Port-au-Prince, on October 17. The violence coincided with the commemoration of the 218th anniversary of the assassination of Haiti’s founder. father, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, and the arrival of six Bahamian soldiers, part of the 150 troops promised, to reinforce the Kenyan-led multinational security support mission (MSS) in Haiti.

Gunfire broke out in Solino, a shanty town northeast of Port-au-Prince, as gangs led by the notorious Kempès Sanon of “Viv Ansanm» The coalition launched a morning attack against the residents. One of the victims, Faby, 18, was fatally shot by a stray bullet while watching television at home. Videos shared online show her lying in a pool of blood as locals mourn her tragic death.

“The kid was just sitting there watching his little movie,” a man said in the video. “This country is broken. »

Despite urgent calls from residents to intervene, the Haitian National Police (PNH) responded but struggled to contain the escalating violence, leading to two officers being injured by the gangs.

Early the next morning, gunshots could still be heard throughout Solino and parts of downtown Port-au-Prince. Authorities have not released any final casualty counts.

The Solino attack marked another day of violence in Port-au-Prince, with reports of armed clashes in various neighborhoods, including Carrefour de l’Aéroport, Tabarre and Croix-des-Bouquets, is downtown Port-au-Prince. In Tabarre 27, gang members burned down houses as hundreds of residents fled in search of safety.

October: A month of increasing gang attacks

Solino’s assault is part of a broader pattern of gang violence across Haiti, particularly this month. On October 3, more than 70 people were killed in Pont-Sondé, near Saint-Marc, in the Artibonite department, by the Gran Grif gang, leaving at least 3,000 people displaced, according to the Human Rights Office. the United Nations man in Haiti. A week later, the Canaan Taliban gang launched attacks in Arcahaie, a western commune about 26 miles north of Port-au-Price.

These attacks have further destabilized the already precarious security situation in the West and Artibonite departments.

In the Artibonite department, particularly in Saint-Marc and areas near Gonaïves, the PNH intensified its operations in response to these attacks but struggled to regain full control of the affected areas.

“The authorities are determined to combat the escalation of violence,” PNH deputy spokesperson Lionel Lazarre told the Haitian Times, although an official assessment of the ongoing crisis was not available.

Bahamian soldiers arrive to reinforce the MSS

Amid the surge in violence, six Bahamian soldiers, part of a contingent committed to reinforcing the MSS, landed in Port-au-Prince on Friday. These six soldiers, led by Colonel Julian Smith of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force, are the first of 150 Bahamian forces intended to reinforce the multinational mission, which currently includes 413 members from four countries.

“We are here to conduct coordinated and continuous maritime patrols to deter maritime threats,” Colonel Smith said upon his arrival at Toussaint Louverture International Airport. He also urged UN member states to meet their financial commitments to the $600 million annual mission.

The Bahamas will play a central role in combating illicit trafficking by disrupting and deterring activities related to narcotics, weapons and contraband, according to the MSS.

Colonel Kevron Henry, deputy commander of the MSS, welcomed the Bahamian delegation and reaffirmed the mission’s support for the PNH in the fight against gangs. “We are committed to helping Haiti fight criminal elements who seek to destroy the future of the nation,” Henry said.

However, like many other informed observers, Romulus Jules, executive director of the Haitian Vision for Human Rights (VHDH), expressed skepticism that the mission would be effective without stronger leadership from the Haitian authorities.

“Without strong national leadership to guide the force, it is a lost cause,” Jules told the Haitian Times. “Foreign forces don’t really understand the reality on the ground. »

Jules stressed the importance of international collaboration, emphasizing that Haiti’s membership in global organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) makes it essential international aid.

“The two constitutional forces – the police and the army – are not equipped to handle this crisis alone,” Jules said. “It is time for the international community to step up its efforts. »

Shooting continues as insecurity worsens

Even when Bahamian soldiers arrived, the echo of gunfire continued across Port-au-Prince. Residents in neighborhoods like Tabarre 27 and Butte Boyer said they heard bursts of automatic weapons while others fled their homes, fearing further violence.

Despite the current chaos, Haiti’s Presidential Transitional Council (PTC) marked the anniversary of Dessalines’ assassination with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Museum of the National Pantheon of Haiti (MUPANAH).

As Haiti continues to grapple with insecurity, residents remain caught between gang violence and the limited capabilities of law enforcement. For many, the arrival of foreign troops offers a glimmer of hope, but without deeper structural changes, peace remains elusive.

In a speech, Leslie Voltaire, president of the CPT, called for an end to violence and a resurgence of national unity.

“We must put an end to massacres, kidnappings and corruption,” he said. “Only a collective resurgence can resolve this crisis. »

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