Haiti's New Prime Minister Condemns Gang Killings of Police Officers

The capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince, was shaken by the gang killings of three police officers on Sunday in the Delmas 18 neighborhood, which is under the control of gang leader Jimmy "Barbeque" Cherizier.

A group of armed men belonging to Cherizier's gang ambushed a patrol from the police's anti-gang unit and set their vehicle on fire, resulting in the death of two officers at the scene. Two other officers were evacuated by reinforcements, but sadly, one of them succumbed to injuries at the hospital.

Prime Minister's Response

Prime Minister Garry Conille, who was sworn in this month, spoke out against the attack, labeling it as a direct assault on the nation's security and stability. He vowed state aid for the families of the victims and expressed his condolences to the bereaved families.

Kenyan President William Ruto announced that a deployment of Kenyan police officers, set to lead a U.N.-sanctioned international force to support Haitian police, is expected to arrive within the next one to two weeks. This support comes as gangs have strengthened their grip on the capital, displacing hundreds of thousands and plunging millions into hunger.

Gang Leader's Provocative Video

Cherizier shared a video on social media accusing the police officers of wrongful actions and dared them to reclaim the seized firearms if they could, adding further tension to the already volatile situation.

The police union SYNAPOHA demanded the return of the victims' bodies, emphasizing that mere words from authorities were insufficient in the face of such a heinous act.

The police force in Haiti has been facing challenges due to rapidly shrinking resources, as warned by SYNAPOHA at the beginning of this year. The delayed arrival of international support from countries like Benin, Chad, Bangladesh, and the Caribbean has exacerbated the situation.