Over 500 inmates escape as armed gangs seize Mirebalais, Haiti

Port-au-Prince.- More than 500 inmates escaped from a prison in Mirebalais, Haiti, after the armed coalition Vivre Ensemble attacked on Monday, according to the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH). Of the 532 detainees who fled, approximately 460 were awaiting trial.

The gang stormed the city, set fire to homes, took control of the police station, and raided the prison. In a video circulating online, gang members celebrated the mass escape. The attack is part of a broader strategy by armed groups to bolster their ranks. Local reports indicate that several gang members were killed as police reinforcements, including armored vehicles, were deployed.

The gangs behind the assault originate from Canaan and Croix-des-Bouquets, near the capital. Their takeover of Mirebalais forced thousands to flee, and even the Mirebalais University Hospital came under threat. Meanwhile, the UN reports that Haiti continues to suffer from widespread gun violence, with over 4,200 killed between July and February, despite an arms embargo.