Police say they have recovered a hijacked cargo ship laden with rice following a fierce gun battle with gangs for over five hours.
The Haitian National Police (HNP) said two police officers sustained injuries while an undisclosed number of gang members were reportedly killed during the confrontation on Saturday, just off the coast of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
In a statement, the authorities said that the hijacking had been orchestrated by members of two notorious gangs, identified as the 5 Seconds and the Taliban gang. They said the gunmen seized control of the transport ship Magalie last Thursday as it was departing from the port of Varreux.
Media reports said that the gang members, not only hijacked the ship but also kidnapped its occupants and looted approximately 10,000 sacks of rice from the vessel’s cargo, which originally carried 60,000 sacks bound for the northern coastal city of Cap-Haitien.
Gang violence continued on Monday, with police using megaphones to order the evacuation of the Champ de Mars area near the National Palace in the capital as heavy gunfire erupted nearby.
In recent weeks, the gunmen have been targeting key government infrastructure, burning down several police stations as well as forcing the closure of the country’s main international airport and storming the two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates.
Haitians are awaiting the announcement from the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) as to who will be appointed to head the transitional government ahead of fresh elections in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry, who remains in the United States, having been prevented from returning to the country, has already said he will step down once the process is completed.
Last Friday, the CPT said that it had finalised the political agreement between all stakeholders involved in the establishment of the Council.
“This agreement, which has been harmonized with the decree document on the organization and operation of the CPT, will be immediately signed by the stakeholders and then the two documents will be officially transmitted to the Government, via CARICOM, the body facilitating the dialogue process,” it added.
PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, Apr 9, CMC –
CMC/af/ir/2024