NewsThe situation in Haiti is incredibly dire as one of the gang leaders threatens 'civil war' if the Prime Minister does not resign

The situation in Haiti is incredibly dire as one of the gang leaders threatens 'civil war' if the Prime Minister does not resign

Police guard the exterior of the Carrefour Aeroport police station, which was set on fire on 04 March by gang members, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 05 March 2024. The streets of Port-au-Prince show apparent normality after the intense shootings the day before, although in some places bodies continue to appear. The population tries to recover normality and dedicates themselves to their daily tasks, despite the fact that on their way, as EFE was able to verify, they come across corpses that some people cover with a blanket, while others are simple charred remains. EPA/JOHNSON SABIN Dostawca: PAP/EPA.
Police guard the exterior of the Carrefour Aeroport police station, which was set on fire on 04 March by gang members, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 05 March 2024. The streets of Port-au-Prince show apparent normality after the intense shootings the day before, although in some places bodies continue to appear. The population tries to recover normality and dedicates themselves to their daily tasks, despite the fact that on their way, as EFE was able to verify, they come across corpses that some people cover with a blanket, while others are simple charred remains. EPA/JOHNSON SABIN Dostawca: PAP/EPA.
Images source: © PAP | PAP/EPA/JOHNSON SABIN

11:48 AM EST, March 6, 2024

Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier the leader of one of the Haitian gangs, icredibly powerful person and ex-policeman, warns the Prime Minister not to return to Haiti. Ariel Henry is blackmailed by him to step down.

The strategy of the gang was to overtake the main Haitiain airport located in the capital Port-Au-Prince. The Prime Minister could not land there due to the hostile takeover. It is not the first time the Haitian Airport is the main point of interest for several groups rovaling for influence in the Haitian capital. Previously, the local policemen tried to overtake the airport and force the Prime Minister to make changes they demanded. The situation ended in the fights between the Prime Minister's security guards and the police. This time the situation is much more dire. Haiti is on the verge of a civil war. The spread of violence is gruesome. The local gangs are extremely powerful and are looking to enhance more power by terrorists acts and blackmailing the government. This time Ariel Henry is ordered to step down by the powerful gang leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier. The gangster is the leader of so called "Fòs Revolisyonè G9 an fanmi e alye" which is short for "Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies", abbreviated "G9". Propably the most powerful gang in Haiti which occupies the important parts of Port-Au-Prince and is conducting wars with the police, the government and other gangs like G-Pep.

Suffering of Haitian people

The exact words Jimmy Cherizier had used as quoted after the BBC News are:

if Ariel Henry does not resign ... we'll be heading straight for a civil war that will lead to genocide

Jimmy Cherizier

The G9 gang has decided to attack prisons, which resulted in massive jailbreak and release of prisoners, many of which are former members of the gangs ready to rejoin. The gang leader used the occasion of the Prime Minister's trip to Kenya in order to escalate the conflict and violence.

The aims of the gang are not clear. The main point of the leader is that the rule of Ariel Henry is 'illegitimate' due to the fact that he did not win any elections while taking power in 2021. No elections have been held in Haiti since 2016.

The situation is complicated and is changing from hour to hour.

Sources: BBC News; Wikipedia

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