Protest in Port-au-Prince Highlights Haiti’s Growing Insecurity

March 21, 2025 Hour: 10:31 pm
At least two people were injured on Wednesday during a protest against the escalating insecurity in the streets of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The demonstration, which drew thousands of citizens, was violently dispersed by the Haitian National Police.
Protesters attempted to reach the Villa d’Accueil in Bourdon, a key location housing the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) and the Prime Minister’s Office. Police forces blocked access to the site, using excessive amounts of tear gas to prevent the crowd from advancing. According to local reports, two individuals sustained gunshot wounds during the confrontation.
The demonstrators, many of whom were displaced individuals, initially gathered to demand immediate government action to combat insecurity. However, their demands soon evolved into calls for the resignation of CPT members. Protesters voiced their frustration with the perceived indifference of Haitian authorities, particularly the CPT, toward the violent acts committed by armed criminal groups. These groups, part of the coalition known as “Living Together,” reportedly control at least 85% of the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, home to a third of Haiti’s population.
Some protesters wore balaclavas, others carried machetes, and many chanted hostile slogans. Following the police crackdown, demonstrators retaliated by throwing stones and blocking traffic on the region’s main road.
The unrest underscores the deepening crisis in Haiti, where armed groups continue to exert significant control, and public frustration with government inaction is mounting.