Breaking: Haitian Gangs Launch Coordinated Assault on Government Buildings – Is the Presidential Palace Next?

In a harrowing turn of events, Haitian gangs orchestrated a large-scale assault on multiple government buildings in or near downtown Port-au-Prince early Friday evening, as reported by a law enforcement source directly involved in the conflict.

According to the source, the attack was meticulously coordinated and swift, with various groups simultaneously targeting key government structures including the Presidential Palace, the Interior Ministry, and a police headquarters for Haiti’s western district, which encompasses Port-au-Prince.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of terror, recounting intense gunfire and the reverberations of large explosions. Hundreds of individuals fled the area as gangs engaged in fierce clashes with law enforcement forces.

As of the latest update, the intensity of the attack appeared to be diminishing, with gang members reportedly beginning to retreat. However, the situation remained uncertain, with it being unclear whether the fighting had ceased for the night or if the gangs were regrouping for further action.

Preliminary reports suggested that approximately a dozen gang fighters had been killed in the confrontation, though this figure remained unconfirmed. Thankfully, no casualties among law enforcement personnel had been reported at the time of writing.

The significance of the Presidential Palace in Haitian governance cannot be overstated. Despite remaining unoccupied by any Haitian president since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, the palace stands as a poignant symbol of federal authority, guarded incessantly.

The potential fall of the palace into the hands of gangs would deliver a devastating blow to Haiti’s efforts to combat organized crime and quell the ongoing rebellion plaguing the nation.

In recent days, Haiti has been embroiled in a state of open rebellion, with the country’s most powerful gangs consolidating their forces and launching a series of brazen attacks against government institutions. Acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s absence from the country during the onset of these attacks has further exacerbated the crisis, leaving the government grappling to regain control.

In response to the escalating violence, the Haitian government has declared a state of emergency, underscoring the severity of the situation.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has issued a stern advisory urging American citizens to evacuate Haiti in light of the escalating gang violence. The U.S. Embassy in Haiti has reinforced this message, advising citizens to closely monitor local news and security conditions and to make arrangements to leave the country when deemed safe and feasible.