{"id":47297,"date":"2022-01-03T17:32:45","date_gmt":"2022-01-03T17:32:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qatar-news.org\/qatarnewsEn\/?p=47297"},"modified":"2022-01-03T17:32:45","modified_gmt":"2022-01-03T17:32:45","slug":"haiti-pm-flees-under-gunfire-as-violence-continues-to-grip-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qatar-news.org\/qatarnewsEn\/?p=47297","title":{"rendered":"Haiti PM flees under gunfire as violence continues to grip nation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ariel Henry was marking Haitian independence day on Saturday when gunfire erupted in northern city of Gonaives.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Gunfire has broken out in the northern Haitian city of Gonaives local media reported, forcing the country\u2019s prime minister to cancel a speech to mark the Caribbean nation\u2019s independence day.<\/p>\n

Haitian news outlet Le Nouvelliste reported<\/a> that Ariel Henry attended mass at a cathedral in Gonaives in the morning on New Year\u2019s Day, which is also when Haiti marks its independence<\/a> from France in 1804.<\/p>\n

However, gunfire broke out between armed civilians and security forces, Le Nouvelliste said, and Henry was unable to give a speech as planned on Saturday, at a public plaza in the city.<\/p>\n

Local media reported that one person died and two were injured in the gunfire that forced Henry and others to duck and seek shelter as they walked out of the cathedral.<\/p>\n

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Dans le cadre de la c\u00e9l\u00e9bration du 218eme anniversaire de l’ind\u00e9pendance nationale, je participe actuellement, aux c\u00f4t\u00e9s de mon Directeur de cabinet et de plusieurs membres du gouvernement, au Te Deum traditionnel qui se d\u00e9roule, aux Gona\u00efves \u00e0 l’\u00e9glise Saint Charles de Borome. pic.twitter.com\/dCWhHxuFHO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Dr Ariel Henry (@DrArielHenry) January 1, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Translation: To mark the celebration of the 218th anniversary of national independence, I\u2019m currently participating, alongside my cabinet director and several members of the government, in a traditional Te Deum at Saint Charles de Borome church in Gonaives.<\/em><\/p>\n

A spokesperson for Haiti\u2019s National Police told The Associated Press news agency on Monday that police had secured the area.<\/p>\n

Haiti has been gripped by surging gang violence<\/a> and kidnappings for ransom, especially in and around the capital, Port-au-Prince, as the country sinks into deeper political instability following the assassination<\/a> of President Jovenel Moise in July.<\/p>\n

Henry, who took office<\/a> less than two weeks after Moise was killed, has also struggled with legitimacy, with leading Haitian rights activists rejecting the prime minister\u2019s push<\/a> to hold elections despite the uncertainty plaguing the nation.<\/p>\n

Powerful armed gangs have also called<\/a> on Henry to step down.<\/p>\n

On January 1, the streets of Gonaives were largely empty, as was its cathedral, for the traditional independence day celebrations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Henry referred to the weekend incident in a tweet by thanking the bishop of Gonaives for holding the mass \u201cdespite the tense situation that was prevailing in the city\u201d.<\/p>\n