Haiti’s Capital in Urgent Need of Stabilization as Gangs Shut Down Airport and New Interim Prime Minister Pledges Peace
In a severe escalation of violence, gangs in Haiti targeted a commercial flight landing in Port-au-Prince on Monday, forcing the country’s main airport to close. A Spirit Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was moments from touchdown when it was struck by gunfire, injuring a flight attendant. The plane was quickly diverted to the Dominican Republic. According to the U.S. Embassy, the attack was part of broader gang efforts to block travel and control key access points around the capital.
Images circulating online show bullet holes in the aircraft’s interior, highlighting the dangerous reality for civilians and travelers alike in Haiti. Spirit, JetBlue, and American Airlines responded by suspending flights to and from Port-au-Prince. Meanwhile, firefights erupted across the city between gangs and police, with heavy gunfire echoing through the streets and civilians fleeing in terror. Reports indicate that homes were set on fire in affluent areas, and schools were shuttered as panic spread.
New Interim Prime Minister Vows to Restore Peace Amidst Crisis
The violence erupted just as Alix Didier Fils-Aimé was sworn in as Haiti’s new interim prime minister, following the removal of his predecessor Garry Conille by a council charged with restoring democratic order. In his inaugural speech, Fils-Aimé acknowledged the daunting task ahead, expressing sorrow for Haitians “forced to leave everything they own” and pledging to prioritize peace and elections, which the country has not held since 2016.
Political Instability Feeds Gang Control
Political instability has fueled violence in the country, with gangs capitalizing on the power vacuum to expand their control. The United Nations, which has been involved in Haiti since 2004, estimates that gangs now control 85% of Port-au-Prince. A U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police has struggled to combat the crisis, facing shortages in both funding and personnel. Experts have called for a more robust U.N. peacekeeping mission to address the chaos.
Louis-Henri Mars, executive director of the peace-building organization Lakou Lapè, warned of the conflict’s human toll, predicting “more lives lost, more internal displacement, and more hunger.” With half the population at risk of starvation, the stakes for ordinary Haitians are dire.
Political Infighting Hampers Efforts for a Stable Transition
The transitional council that appointed Fils-Aimé was established with the hope of stabilizing the country following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, an event that deeply destabilized the nation. However, the council has been plagued by political infighting, intensifying the nation’s security crisis. Conille, the recently ousted interim prime minister, condemned his removal, calling it “an illegal overreach” and questioning the legitimacy of the council’s actions.
Calls for Unity and International Support
Efforts by international organizations to mediate have yet to yield results. The United Nations has urged Haiti’s political leaders to prioritize national unity and stability. U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric emphasized the importance of collaboration, saying, “What is important is that Haitian political leaders put the interests of Haiti first and foremost, and we, as the international community, must support them in this endeavor.”
As Fils-Aimé takes office amid one of Haiti’s most turbulent periods, the world watches closely to see if the government can restore stability to a population in crisis.