(Port-au-Prince) An attack on the Central Bank of Haiti in the capital Port-au-Prince, which is largely controlled by gangs, was repelled and several attackers were killed, a source said Tuesday within the establishment.
The Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) is one of the rare institutions that has not fled the city center where several armed gangs are active.
A group of “bandits” attacked its premises on Monday, said a source within the BRH who preferred to remain anonymous.
“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 officers was shot and injured, she said.
The Bank, for its part, said Tuesday on 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 BRH premises […]the police and the security team of the institution reacted with professionalism and efficiency,” she said.
The situation in Port-au-Prince remains “tense and volatile,” Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said Tuesday. “Schools, hospitals and government buildings continue to be attacked,” he continued. Several neighborhoods were deprived of electricity after attacks on electrical posts reported Sunday by the Haitian electricity company.
Haiti, which was already experiencing a deep political and security crisis, has been gripped by renewed violence since the beginning of the month, when several gangs joined forces to attack strategic locations in Port-au-Prince as part of a fight against Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
Very contested, the latter was unable to return to his country after a trip to Kenya. He announced his resignation on March 11, saying his government would manage current affairs until a presidential transition council is established.
Haitians have been waiting since the formation of these transitional authorities.
Antonio Guterres reiterated his “call to all Haitian stakeholders to put aside their differences and act immediately” to put these authorities in place.
On Monday, according to an AFP photographer, 14 dead bodies were found in a wealthy suburb of Port-au-Prince where gang members carried out attacks at dawn.