A deadly prison break in Haiti has left around a dozen inmates dead, sparking fresh concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the country.
The incident, which occurred on Friday, August 16, in the coastal city of Saint-Marc, marks a troubling escalation in violence, despite the presence of a Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) deployed to stabilise the region.
The chaotic scenes unfolded when inmates at the Saint-Marc prison reportedly staged a spontaneous protest, driven by worsening conditions inside the facility.
According to local government official Walter Montas, the unrest was fuelled by a lack of food and appalling health conditions, which have been exacerbated by Haiti's ongoing humanitarian crisis.
In a statement, Saint-Marc Mayor Myriam Fievre confirmed that 12 inmates had been killed during the prison break, the third such incident in recent months. "The situation is under control but the results are catastrophic. All the cops' dormitories have burnt down. The archives have burnt down. They've set everything on fire except their cells," remarked State Prosecutor Venson Francois, who has urged the local population to remain vigilant and report any sightings of escapees.
Unverified videos shared widely on social media depicted the chaos as it unfolded. Inmates were seen climbing over walls, with smoke billowing from the prison compound, which is ringed with barbed wire. The footage also captured a loud explosion and a raging fire, further highlighting the extent of the destruction.
The Saint-Marc prison housed approximately 540 inmates at the time of the escape, according to official records. Haiti's national police have yet to provide additional details on the incident, and their response to the situation remains unclear.
The prison break is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by the Haitian government and the international community as they struggle to restore order in a country plagued by gang violence and political instability.
The Multinational Security Support Mission, led by Kenya, was deployed to Haiti in response to the worsening security situation. However, the mission has faced significant challenges, with only 400 of the 1,000 police officers pledged by Kenya having arrived in the country so far.
Other nations that had committed to sending personnel to support Haiti's under-resourced police force have yet to follow through on their promises.
In a statement released on social media, Commander Godfrey Otunge, head of the Kenyan contingent and the MSSM, called for the nations that had committed to sending troops to Haiti to act swiftly. He also highlighted the urgent need for more resources and weapons for the Haitian National Police (HNP) as they continue to engage with heavily armed criminal gangs.
"We remain steadfast in supporting the Haitian National Police, which is in dire need of more resources and weapons as they engage the criminal gangs," Otunge stated after a meeting with Jerusa Léa Ali, Director General Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas on Friday.
The prison break comes at a time when Haiti's prison system is already under severe strain. According to U.N. data, more than 7,500 people were being held in Haitian prisons at the end of June, down from nearly 12,000 before gangs staged mass breakouts from the country’s two largest prisons in March.
These breakouts, coupled with the rising death toll among inmates due to poor conditions and a lack of basic necessities, have highlighted the urgent need for reform.
The March prison break also had significant political ramifications, triggering a state of emergency that led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Henry, who had travelled abroad to secure Kenya's support for the MSSM, was unable to return to Haiti due to the intense fighting between gangs and government forces.
The ongoing conflict in Haiti has displaced nearly 600,000 people within the country, forcing them to flee their homes in search of safety. Additionally, the U.N. estimates that close to 5 million Haitians—almost half of the country’s population—are now facing severe hunger as the humanitarian crisis deepens.
Local newspaper Le Nouvelliste reported that prison officials had been on strike, demanding better treatment from the government. The publication also cited Prosecutor Francois expressing "great fear of mutiny," although further details were not provided.
