Gang members stormed the town of Mirebalais in central Haiti on Monday and released about 500 inmates from prison. A spokesman for Haiti’s national police stated that extra officers had been deployed to Mirebalais, which is located 50km (30 miles) north-east of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Police officials said they had regained control of Mirebalois, but local reports warned that many of the escaped inmates were still roaming the streets. Armed gangs have control over almost the entire capital, and this latest attack suggests that they are increasingly targeting towns in other areas of the country.
Mirebalais is situated on the crossroads of two main roads, one leading north from Port-au-Prince to the coast, and another leading east to the Dominican Republic. Locals reported that heavily armed men fired at buildings and passers-by, setting buildings and cars alight, and sending residents fleeing for their lives. The attackers also stormed the local prison, freeing the estimated 500 people being held there. A local radio journalist stated that the attackers belonged to two gangs, the 400 Mawozo and a group calling itself “Taliban,” which both form part of the Viv Ansam gang coalition and control northern parts of Port-au-Prince. The two gangs may be attempting to gain control of key roads leading from their areas into the countryside.
The 400 Mawozo is notorious for kidnapping people for ransom, often targeting buses traveling to and from the capital. The Taliban gang has its stronghold in Canaan, a suburb in the north of Port-au-Prince. The attack occurred just days after the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti confirmed that a Kenyan police officer, Benedict Kabiru, had been shot dead in a gang attack. The multinational force has been attempting to help Haiti’s national police regain control of gang-ruled areas, but locals report that little progress has been made. Kabiru’s death was the second Kenyan to be killed while on duty in Haiti.
According to United Nations figures, over 5,600 people were killed in Haiti last year as a result of gang violence. Additionally, 2,212 people were injured, and 1,494 were kidnapped in 2024.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn05ek5gw0wo
