Haiti: PM Garry Conille narrowly escapes gang attack amid heavy firing | WATCH

New Delhi: Haiti's Prime Minister Garry Conille narrowly escaped harm on Monday when armed gangs opened fire near a hospital in Port-au-Prince during his visit. A government source confirmed to AFP that Conille, who was accompanied by Haitian police and members of a UN-backed Kenyan security force, emerged unscathed from the attack.

What happened at the hospital?

The assault occurred as Prime Minister Conille was leaving the General Hospital, located in a gang-controlled area of the capital. The gunmen, wielding automatic weapons, began shooting in the vicinity of the hospital. It remains unclear if this was an assassination attempt.

Conille was at the hospital to conduct a surprise inspection of its operating conditions. A video of the incident shows police officers taking cover within the hospital’s secure areas as gunfire erupted. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported so far.

🇭🇹HAITI’S PM LEAVES HOSPITAL DURING GUN BATTLE

His security team had to lay down cover fire as Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille left a hospital in Port-au-Prince.

Conille was visiting Haiti’s largest hospital with the head of the national police, Normil Rameau, and some… pic.twitter.com/s5Tl89Coy9

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 30, 2024

Background on the hospital, gang control

The hospital had been under gang control from late February until early July when a police operation successfully reclaimed the building. Despite this, gang presence in Port-au-Prince remains pervasive, with criminal groups controlling about 80% of the capital. Residents face constant threats of murder, rape and kidnapping for ransom.

Kenyan police officers deployed

In response to the rampant gang violence, hundreds of Kenyan police officers have been deployed in Port-au-Prince as part of an international initiative to restore order in Haiti. The country has been grappling with severe political, social, and economic turmoil.

Prime Minister's commits to restore state authority

Prime Minister Conille, who assumed office in June as part of an interim government following the resignation of his unpopular and unelected predecessor, Ariel Henry, has pledged to restore state authority and improve security conditions in the nation.