Haiti's Prime Minister, Garry Conille, narrowly escaped unharmed on Monday after gangs opened fire near a hospital he was visiting.
The incident occurred in a gang-dominated area of Port-au-Prince, highlighting the ongoing challenges the nation faces in restoring stability amid escalating gang violence.
Prime Minister Conille, who took office in June, was departing the hospital when gunmen began firing automatic weapons. Despite the danger, Conille was safely escorted from the scene by Haitian police and members of a UN-backed Kenyan security force.
Video footage captured the tense moment, showing police officers running for cover as gunfire erupted. While it remains unclear if there were any injuries, the hospital in question had been under gang control from late February until early July, when a police operation reclaimed the facility.
Gang violence in Port-au-Prince is a severe issue, with criminal groups controlling approximately 80 percent of the city. Residents live under the constant threat of murder, rape, and kidnapping for ransom. In response, hundreds of Kenyan police officers have been deployed to Haiti's capital as part of an international effort to restore order in the politically, socially, and economically troubled country.
Prime Minister Conille has pledged to re-establish state authority. He assumed office as part of an interim government following the resignation of his predecessor, Ariel Henry, who was widely unpopular and unelected. Conille's administration is focused on combating gang violence and stabilizing the nation.
