An attack on the Central Bank of Haiti in the capital Port-au-Prince was repelled, and several attackers were killed, a source told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Tuesday (March 19). within the establishment.
The Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) is one of the rare institutions that has not fled Port-au-Prince, now 80% in the hands of gangs, accused of numerous abuses, in particular murders, rapes , looting and kidnapping for ransom.
A group of “bandits” attacked its premises on Monday, a source within the BRH, who preferred to remain anonymous, told AFP. “Our security agents, together with the police and the army, repelled the attack. Between three and four bandits were killed,” she said. One of the BRH security agents was shot and injured, she said.
The Bank, for its part, said Tuesday on the social network X that it was “deeply grateful to our agents and the national police for their vigilance and constant commitment to protecting our community.” “Faced with an incident that occurred yesterday near the premises of the BRH (…), the police and the security team of the institution reacted with professionalism and efficiency,” she said.
Wave of violence since the beginning of March
The Caribbean island, which was already experiencing a serious political and security crisis, has been plagued by a wave of violence since the beginning of the month, when gangs joined forces to attack strategic locations in Port-au-Prince, in part of a fight to force the Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, to leave power. Highly contested, the latter, who was unable to return to his country after a trip to Kenya, announced his resignation a week ago, affirming that his government would manage current affairs until the establishment of a council transitional presidential election.
During an emergency meeting Monday with representatives from Haiti, the UN and the United States among others, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and its partners charged Haitian political parties and the private sector to implement establish these transitional authorities. But negotiations to form this body of seven voting members have fallen behind schedule, particularly due to internal dissensions.
Fourteen bodies were found Monday in Pétion-Ville, a wealthy suburb of Port-au-Prince, according to AFP. It is not known under what circumstances the people were killed.
