In a harrowing display of power, armed gangs attacked the town of Mirebalais, central Haiti, releasing approximately 500 prisoners from jail in a coordinated assault that has left residents in fear and heightened police efforts to restore order.
Haitian Gangs Overrun Mirebalais, Free Hundreds from Prison
Haitian Gangs Overrun Mirebalais, Free Hundreds from Prison
Violent gang takeover in Haiti results in mass inmate release and heightened security.
The violent events unfolded on Monday as heavily armed members of the 400 Mawozo and "Taliban" gangs, affiliated with the Viv Ansam coalition, stormed the town, sparking chaos with gunfire and arson. According to Haiti’s national police, additional forces have been dispatched to restore control over Mirebalais, an area vital for access to both the coast and the Dominican Republic. Despite police regaining some orders, reports indicate that many escaped inmates remain at large.
The gang-controlled region continues to experience escalating violence, underscored by the recent killing of a Kenyan police officer during a gang confrontation. The overall picture is dismal, with the United Nations recording over 5,600 fatalities due to gang violence last year alone, alongside alarming numbers of injuries and kidnappings. Locals express frustration over the lack of tangible progress by international efforts to assist the beleaguered Haitian police in reclaiming control from rampant gang rule.
The gang-controlled region continues to experience escalating violence, underscored by the recent killing of a Kenyan police officer during a gang confrontation. The overall picture is dismal, with the United Nations recording over 5,600 fatalities due to gang violence last year alone, alongside alarming numbers of injuries and kidnappings. Locals express frustration over the lack of tangible progress by international efforts to assist the beleaguered Haitian police in reclaiming control from rampant gang rule.
