UNITED NATIONS, CMC – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Tuesday condemned the attack by heavily armed gang members on the town of Mirebalais, 30 miles northeast of the capital, that the authorities in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country said resulted in indiscriminately killing and injuring several residents.
The authorities said that the attack was carried out by members of the “Viv insane” gang, who also burnt several houses and vehicles and fired automatic weapons.
“I can tell you that the Secretary-General condemns a gang attack in Mirebalais, Centre department, which reportedly resulted in the escape of more than 500 detainees from a local prison,” said Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesman for the Secretary-General.
He told the daily news briefing here that the Secretary-General has also called on the Haitian authorities and stakeholders, with the international community’s support, “to redouble their efforts to restore security, protect civilians, and create the required conditions for restoring democratic institutions.
“This includes ensuring that the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission and the Haitian National Police (PNH) are equipped with the required resources, the required logistics, and the required personnel to fulfill their mandate,” Dujarric said.
Earlier, the PNH said they had regained control of the town, with the PNH deputy spokesperson, Lionel Lazarre, saying that the gang members had on Monday attacked the police station, forcing the understaffed police officers to flee and setting fire to the premises. He said they also stormed the Mirebalais civil prison and opened all the cells, resulting in the escape of more than 500 prisoners.
In a video posted on social media, a man is seen hoisting an automatic rifle as people around him yell, “We broke out the prisoners!” Soon after, they began chanting, “They can’t stop us!”
The gang members’ actions caused widespread panic, forcing many families to flee to neighboring towns, including Lascahobas, Boucan-Carré, and Hinche. The action forced the closure of schools, shops, public markets, and supermarkets, and public transportation was also paralyzed.
Lazarre said that SWAT units and members of the elite Research and Intervention Brigade (BRI) were transported by helicopter to Mirebalai and were able to repel the attackers.
He said the police station and the civilian prison were recaptured and that several of the gang members were fatally injured. The PNH also recovered firearms and ammunition. Lazarre confirmed that the town of Mirebalais is now under control, and several specialized PNH units have been deployed.
Criminal gangs have been seeking to overthrow the government ever since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.
The United Nations Security Council 2023 passed a resolution for the Kenya-led MSS mission to combat gang violence and restore stability in the country. Criminal gangs are seeking to take complete control of the capital, Port au Prince, and have launched several attacks, killing women and children, among others.
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