A lethal prison break in Haiti has resulted in the deaths of approximately twelve inmates, intensifying concerns over the nation’s worsening security crisis.
The Friday, August 16 event, which occurred in the coastal city of Saint-Marc, signals a significant surge in violence despite the presence of the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) aimed at stabilizing the area.
The unrest erupted as inmates in Saint-Marc prison reportedly launched a sudden protest, driven by deteriorating conditions within the facility.
Local official Walter Montas attributed the violence to severe food shortages and poor health conditions, problems that have been magnified by Haiti’s ongoing humanitarian disaster.
Saint-Marc Mayor Myriam Fievre confirmed the loss of 12 inmates during the escape attempt, marking the third such event in recent months.
“The situation is now under control, but the damage is immense. The police dorms and archives are destroyed by fire—everything was torched except their cells,” said State Prosecutor Venson Francois, urging residents to report any sighted escapees.
Social media was flooded with unverified videos showing prisoners scaling walls and thick smoke billowing from the prison surrounded by barbed wire.
The footage also captured a loud explosion and a raging fire, underscoring the destruction.
The Saint-Marc prison held around 540 inmates at the time of the escape, according to official reports.
Haiti’s national police have not yet released further details, and their response remains unclear.
This breakout underscores the challenges facing both the Haitian government and the international community in restoring order to a nation beset by gang violence and political turmoil.
The Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission was dispatched to combat Haiti’s worsening security issues.
Yet, the mission has struggled with logistical setbacks; only 400 of the promised 1,000 Kenyan officers have arrived, while other countries have delayed sending their pledged personnel.
Commander Godfrey Otunge, head of the Kenyan contingent, urged countries to expedite their support in a social media statement.
He emphasized the critical need for additional resources and weapons for the Haitian National Police (HNP) to confront well-armed gangs.
“We remain committed to backing the Haitian National Police, which urgently needs more resources and weaponry in its fight against criminal gangs,” Otunge stated after meeting with Jerusa Léa Ali, Director General Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
This prison break occurs amid growing pressure on Haiti’s penal system. U.N. statistics show that over 7,500 inmates were held in Haitian prisons as of late June, down from nearly 12,000 before mass breakouts in March from the country’s two largest facilities.
These earlier escapes, combined with rising death rates due to dire conditions and lack of essentials, have spotlighted the urgent need for prison reform.
The March escape also had significant political fallout, leading to a state of emergency that forced former Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s resignation.
Henry, who was abroad seeking Kenya’s support for the MSSM, couldn’t return due to escalating clashes between gangs and government forces.
The ongoing crisis in Haiti has displaced nearly 600,000 people, forcing them to flee their homes.
Additionally, the U.N. reports that nearly 5 million Haitians—almost half the population—are now facing severe food insecurity as the humanitarian crisis worsens.
Local newspaper Le Nouvelliste reported that prison staff had gone on strike, demanding better working conditions from the government.
The paper also noted Prosecutor Francois expressing “grave concern over a potential mutiny,” though further details remain unclear.
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