Gunfire in Haiti’s capital as gang leader tries to pressure officials

There was “heavy gunfire” in the area of a barricade erected on a boulevard running near Toussaint Louverture International Airport, according to a security alert Thursday from the U.S. Embassy in Haiti. The embassy went to limited operations, canceling appointments. American Airlines on Friday was waiving fees for changed flights through Haiti, citing civil unrest. Numerous news agencies, including the Associated Press, reported on a social media post by gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, who claimed responsibility for the violence in the street. He said he was trying to force Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry to step down.

What is going on with Henry? Henry was in Kenya when the violence erupted, signing a deal with Kenyan President William Ruto for the deployment of 1,000 troops to Haiti to help stem the gang violence. Late last year, the United Nations approved the Kenya-led Multi-National Security Support Mission for Haiti.

Dig deeper: Listen to Mary Reichard’s conversation with Dr. David Vanderpool on The World and Everything in It podcast about Haiti’s violence and recent natural disasters.