In a stark reminder of Haiti’s escalating security crisis, suspected gang members opened fire on American forces guarding the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince earlier this week, according to a spokesperson. The incident underscores the precarious situation in the Caribbean nation, where gangs now control 90% of the capital, extorting businesses and battling for territory with heavy weaponry. Haitian police have yet to comment on the exchange of fire. The US continues to maintain its embassy in Haiti, but the State Department has repeatedly warned American citizens against traveling to the country due to rampant kidnappings, crime, terrorist activity, and civil unrest. The United Nations reports that gang violence has displaced over 1.3 million Haitians in recent years. The security situation has worsened significantly since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, which created a power vacuum that remains unresolved, with no elections held to replace him. In late September, the UN Security Council approved the deployment of a 5,500-strong international force to combat Haiti’s heavily armed criminal groups. However, a smaller Kenyan police contingent has struggled to contain the violence, which claimed 5,600 lives last year, according to the UN Human Rights Office.
Haitian gang members exchange fire with Marines protecting US Embassy in Port-au-Prince
