A photo displaying a chaotic scene in Haiti serves as a backdrop for a country grappling with severe gang violence.

Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council Addresses Nation’s Turmoil

Following a significant demonstration in Port-au-Prince where thousands of Haitians demanded an end to the relentless gang violence, the leader of Haiti’s transitional presidential council, Fritz Alphonse Jean, addressed the public amidst rising concern amongst Haitians.

The protest, notably the largest since the council’s installation a year prior, saw citizens confronting both the council and the prime minister’s office, demanding a resolution to the violence that has plagued the nation.

Jean’s message was one of acknowledgment and solidarity with the suffering of the Haitian people: "We understand your misery. We know your pain and your suffering."

Since July, the United Nations reports a staggering 4,200 people have been killed and another 1,356 injured due to the violence, with over 60,000 individuals left homeless within a single month.

"It’s a critical juncture for the transitional council," stated observers. Originally supportive groups and the international community are now calling for a leadership change, concerns which have gone unaddressed by the council.

Highlighting the severity of the attacks, Jean outlined areas where gangs have ravaged homes and businesses, causing loss of life, jobs, and personal trauma, including assaults on women and children.

He urged citizens to support law enforcement and resist gang recruitment, especially among vulnerable children, drawing a parallel to the nation’s historic fight against slavery in its appeal for unity.

In response to the turmoil, Jean announced plans for the council to enact "important measures" to combat the violence, including the allocation of a special budget and the integration of agents from the BSAP, an armed state environmental group, though specifics were not disclosed.

Since the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, Haiti has been without a president, a power vacuum that has seen gangs strengthen their grip on the nation.

Source: http://www.africanews.com/2025/04/04/haitis-leaders-face-calls-to-resign-as-gangs-step-up-attacks/