Haiti’s capital is tense as another gang boss is shot and murdered

As political parties seemed to be getting closer to finalizing a transition committee that would replace an absent administration, attacks in the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince, increased on Thursday. Among them was a gunfight that resulted in the death of another gang boss.

Police and sources verified that Ernst Julme, also known as Ti Greg, the leader of the Delmas 95 gang, was slain in a police operation one day after another gang boss was assassinated in what seemed to be a revival of a vigilante justice campaign.

Julme was a part of the “Viv Ansanm” coalition led by gang boss Jimmy “Barbeque” Cherizier, and his death represents a setback for the gangs’ attempts to expand their control across the city. Julme had just pulled off a huge breakout from the biggest prison in Haiti.

According to a U.N. official, political organizations have chosen every member of a transitional council that will take over presidential duties before the next elections. This news was applauded by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The council, which aims to unite the country’s divided political elite, has been tasked with selecting a successor for de facto Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who tendered his resignation on March 11 due to gang-related violence impeding his ability to return to Haiti.

Additionally, the council will exercise certain presidential authority until elections are able to be conducted.

At a press conference, deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said, “The Secretary-General welcomes reports that Haitian stakeholders have all nominated representatives to the Transitional Presidential Council.”

Together with members of Haiti’s government and opposition, the Intergovernmental Caribbean Community (CARICOM) mediated the transition plan in Jamaica. A list of political parties that will have representatives in the council was made public by CARICOM.

After Henry resigned, the nine-member council was originally supposed to be finalized in a few days, but several Haitian political forces were unable to come together behind a single candidate.

Groups not included in the proposal criticized the return of lawmakers from past governments who were seen as corrupt, and one party rejected the idea completely before retreating.

If politicians participate in the planned council, Cherizier has promised to retaliate against them and their families.

DISPUTE IN THE SUBURBS
Heavy gunfire erupted on Thursday outside the National Palace, which is located off the Champ de Mars square in downtown Port-au-Prince, as the council seemed to be drawing to a close. Meanwhile, residents in the capital’s Petion-Ville district were fleeing recent violence.

In what seemed to be a revival of the Bwa Kale civic vigilante movement, suspected gang members in Petion-Ville, which has been the target of attacks in recent days, were slain and set on fire on Wednesday. Among them was one leader by the name of Makandal.

Although Reuters was unable to confirm it, local media on Thursday said that there had been another Bwa Kale killing outside the city.

The police are ill-prepared to combat highly armed criminal organizations looking to increase their territorial control of the capital city, and the state has been mostly silent during the carnage. Henry asked for an international security mission in 2022, but plans for it are still pending.

According to Haq, the improvement of political and security conditions hinged on the prompt deployment of the international army.

He demanded the safety of people and said that the UN would back the restoration of Haiti’s democratic institutions.

Because Haiti’s major airport is not safe, the UN, other international organizations, and embassies have been using helicopters to evacuate their workers and other foreign nationals.

In addition to the 70 US citizens who have flown out since Sunday, the US administration arranged on Thursday for the departure of 90 US citizens from Port-au-Prince to the Dominican Republic and from the northern city of Cap-Haitien to Miami.