Thousands of people in the crisis-torn Haiti have taken to the streets of the capital Port-au-Prince against the government’s decision to seek foreign military assistance to quell gang-related violence, with police using tear gas to disperse protesters. Demonstrators on Monday shouted against the foreign occupation and demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who on Friday asked international partners for the immediate deployment of a specialized armed force, in sufficient quantity to stop the criminal actions of armed gangs across the country. Several people were shot and one person was reported to have been killed during the rallies as protesters blamed the police for the death.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Monday for the immediate deployment of a special international force in Haiti to help the Caribbean state, which has been facing a biting fuel and water shortage. But Haiti’s ambassador to the United States also said on Monday that the US and Canada should take the lead in forming a force to confront Haitian gangs.
Chidozie Chima | September 13, 2024
