After escalation of violence

State of emergency declared in Haiti

(Bild: AP)

Haiti's government has declared a state of emergency following a call for a coup and violent clashes. The government in Port-au-Prince announced on Sunday that a curfew would come into force with immediate effect for "a period of 72 hours, which may be extended". 

The emergency decree follows a dramatic escalation of violence at the weekend, which paralyzed parts of the capital. Heavy gunfire had panicked the population in recent days. Gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, a former police officer, had called on the criminal groups to join forces to overthrow head of government Ariel Henry. Henry, who came to power in 2021 after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, had previously promised to step down in early February. He later announced that security must first be restored in order to guarantee free and fair elections. Cherizier is at the head of a gang alliance and is subject to UN and US sanctions.

(Bild: AFP)

Armed groups attacked the country's largest prison on Sunday night. It remains unclear how many prisoners escaped. It was probably an "overwhelming" majority, said people familiar with the matter. According to the human rights organization RNDDH, there were 3687 prisoners in the 700-person prison in February last year.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) of the United Nations, almost 15,000 people have had to leave their homes in recent days. Haiti is considered the poorest country in Latin America.