Haiti’s top gang leader threatens politicians, Canada evacuates staff

PORT-AU-PRINCE: A powerful gang leader in Haiti has issued a threatening message aimed at political leaders who would take part in a planned transition council for the country, and Canada evacuated embassy staff amid a fresh surge in violence in Port-au-Prince.

After unpopular Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced on Monday he would step down once the council was in place, the capital had been initially quieter but violence appeared to be flaring up again as of late Wednesday, with a shootout in one neighbourhood and an attack on the police academy early on Thursday.

A fire broke out at the main penitentiary, emptied of prisoners by armed men earlier this month. Thick black smoke earlier billowed out from the facility, but the fire appeared to be under control by Thursday afternoon. Reuters could not immediately establish if any people had remained in the jail or what sparked the blaze.

The Caribbean country is struggling to resolve a long-running political and humanitarian crisis. Heavily-armed gangs have taken over much of the capital, and rights groups have reported widespread killings, kidnappings and sexual violence. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced.

The comments from gang alliance head Jimmy “Barbeque” Cherizier were recorded on Wednesday and distributed via a rambling 7-minute audio message widely shared on Thursday morning on messaging platform WhatsApp.

“Don’t you have any shame?” said Cherizier, directing his remarks at politicians who he said were looking to join the council.