Gangs in Haiti have made advances in Port-au-Prince as political parties in the violence-stricken country inch towards forming a transition government.
Police in Haiti’s capital reported that a major gang leader Ernst Julme also known as Ti Greg was killed in a clash with security forces.
Julme was the leader of the Delmas 95 gang and had recently escaped from Haiti’s largest prison during a mass jailbreak.
Much of Haiti, particularly Port-au-Prince, has long been in the grip of criminal gangs, but their violent activity worsened abruptly in February when armed groups raided a prison and released thousands of inmates, demanding that Prime Minister Ariel Henry resign.
Although, Henry agreed to step down, negotiations have been slow, with the US and other regional countries mounting pressure.
Meanwhile, the Police are struggling with armed gangs advancing into new areas.
Consequently, Haiti’s police forces are ill-equipped against heavily armed criminal gangs roaming around the capital city, seeking to expand their operations.
However, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed “reports that Haitian stakeholders have all nominated representatives to the transitional Presidential Council.”
Guterres made calls for efforts to maintain the momentum and work towards the implementation of the transitional governance arrangements agreed upon.
Additionally, the head of the World Health Organization said the closure of Port-au-Prince’s airport has made it impossible to import essential goods and medicine amid an ongoing cholera outbreak.