Armed gangs attack Haitian Prime Minister’s motorcade

Haiti.- Armed gangs attacked the motorcade of Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille on Monday in Port-au-Prince as he was leaving the State University Hospital of Haiti after a surprise visit.

Witnesses reported that Kenyan journalists and police were briefly trapped inside the hospital during the ambush by the gang coalition known as “Vivre Ensemble” (Living Together).

The incident led to violent clashes between Haitian and Kenyan police and the armed gangs. The continued control of central Port-au-Prince by these gangs has heightened tensions in the capital.

Kenyan police forces began arriving in Haiti in late June as part of a multinational security support mission led by Kenya. In October 2023, the UN Security Council authorized this mission to assist the Haitian National Police, following a request from Haitian authorities to combat gang violence.