The United States has issued a security alert following intense gunfire near its embassy in Port-au-Prince, as Haiti reels from a surge in deadly gang violence and worsening political instability.
The U.S. State Department confirmed Monday that embassy personnel have suspended all official movements outside the diplomatic compound in the capital’s Tabarre neighborhood, close to Toussaint Louverture International Airport. This follows extended gun battles between police forces and heavily armed gangs in the area.
“U.S. government personnel have paused all official movement outside the embassy compound,” the State Department said, urging American citizens in Haiti to exercise extreme caution.
Residents of the capital told AFP they heard prolonged and heavy exchanges of fire, underscoring the growing influence of gangs that now control large parts of the country. The Tabarre area, which hosts several key institutions, has become increasingly volatile in recent months.
Haiti remains the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, and its fragile institutions have crumbled under the weight of deepening political crisis and unchecked criminal violence. Armed groups routinely commit murders, kidnappings, and sexual assaults, terrorizing communities and crippling daily life.
According to figures from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, at least 3,141 people were killed in Haiti in the first half of 2025 alone, marking a sharp escalation in violence.
In a related development, Haitian police on Monday announced the arrest of a former senator accused of conspiracy against the state, financing armed gangs, and complicity in murder, a move seen as part of broader efforts to stem political collusion with criminal groups.
As lawlessness spreads and the humanitarian situation worsens, international calls for urgent intervention continue to grow, though concrete solutions remain elusive.
Written By Rodney Mbua
