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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| 'Drop your weapons and recognize the state's authority', Haiti's PM tells gangs |
| 2024-07-19 |
| [AFRICANEWS] In an address to the nation Wednesday, Haiti's Prime Minister called gangs to surrender their weapons. “Life every day in Port-au-Prince has turned into a battle for survival,” Gary Conille said. According to the UN, 2,500 people, including at least 82 children, were killed, or injured because of gang violence in the first three months of the year. It is estimated that gangs control about 80% of the capital. “Drop your weapons and recognize the authority of the state,” Conille said in a message to gangs. When assuming office in June, Conille promised to "deliver" for the Caribbean nation grappling with overlapping security, humanitarian and political crises. Earlier this month, Jimmy Cherizier, a powerful gang leader accused the Prime minister of not opening dialogue with the alliance that he represents. Cherizier who is best known as Barbecue called for a national dialogue. A Multinational Security Support Mission comprising police officers from Kenya, Chad and Benin is deploying to Haiti with a mandate to help their local counterparts restore security. In late February, gangs launched coordinated attacks targeting key state infrastructure. They seized control of more than two dozen police stations; opened fire on the main international airport, forcing it to close for nearly three months; and stormed Haiti’s two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates. The violence led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry in late April and the installation of a transitional presidential council and Conille as the new prime minister. Diego Da Rin, with the International Crisis Group, noted that gang violence began diminishing in late May, with the first contingent of Kenyans arriving in late June. He noted that so far, Kenyans appeared to have limited their patrols to neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince that have not been seized by gangs. Related: Port-au-Prince: 2024-06-27 Haitians react to expected arrival of police force from Kenya Port-au-Prince: 2024-06-26 UN-backed contingent of foreign police arrives in Haiti as Kenya-led force prepares to face gangs Port-au-Prince: 2024-06-13 Haiti inaugurates new cabinet as country looks to end political unrest Related: Jimmy Cherizier 03/15/2024 Development of democracy in Haiti Jimmy Cherizier 03/13/2024 Don Surber: The military-industrial complex changes subjects after Biden's speech Jimmy Cherizier 03/05/2024 Catastrophe in Haiti as street clashes tear city apart, thousands of inmates escape in two separate prison breaks |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #6 “Drop your weapons and recognize the authority of the state,” Maybe it sounds better in French. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2024-07-19 16:35 |
| #5 They'll be lucky if the ultimatum isn't returned as a menu with pictures of government members. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2024-07-19 16:24 |
| #4 Power comes from the barrel of a gun. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2024-07-19 11:08 |
| #3 or what They'll loose the Kenyan mercenaries. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2024-07-19 04:28 |
| #2 ^^ My exact thoughts. At this point the "state's" power is harsh language. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2024-07-19 03:58 |
| #1 Or, what? |
| Posted by: Grom the Reflective 2024-07-19 01:12 |