US military evacuates staff, adds security at embassy in Haiti
The U.S. military conducted an overnight mission to evacuate staff and add security at the embassy in Haiti, another sign of the deteriorating situation in the capital of Port-au-Prince.
The military airlifted U.S. personnel into and out of the embassy at the request of the U.S. State Department, according to an early Sunday statement from U.S. Southern Command. The mission was designed to “allow our Embassy mission operations to continue, and enable non-essential personnel to depart,” according to the statement. No Haitians were on board the aircraft.
The operation took place as the Caribbean nation descended into chaos, with gangs overrunning the capital and the government on the verge of collapse. Gangs have attacked police stations and prisons, looted seaports and public buildings, and shut down the airport, blocking shipments of critical supplies such as food. The prime minister, Ariel Henry, is stranded in Puerto Rico as gang members demand his resignation.
Violence exploded over the weekend, with the gangs launching massive attacks on at least three police stations. Caribbean leaders called late Friday for an emergency meeting Monday in Jamaica on what they called the “dire” situation in Haiti. Caribbean nations and the U.S. are working to find a resolution.
Kenya announced last year it would lead a multinational police force to try to calm the situation in Haiti, financed partially by the U.S., but the mission has been delayed amid legal challenges.
In the meantime, the Biden administration has been considering contingency plans for months, according to a U.S. official, who was granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive situation. The U.S. has decided not to send U.S. military forces to intervene in the situation, and instead “enable and encourage our international partners to resolve it themselves,” the official said.
However, there has been concern in recent days that “the timeline has moved up” because of the “reality on the ground,” the official said.
The U.S. military personnel deployed in the latest mission are likely additional Marine security guards to help protect the embassy in Port-au-Prince.
The Defense Department is ready to provide “enabling support” for a Kenyan-led multinational mission, “including planning assistance, information sharing, airlift, communications, and medical support,” according to Southern Command.
“Our Embassy remains focused on advancing U.S. government efforts to support the Haitian people, including mobilizing support for the Haitian National Police, expediting the deployment of the United Nations-authorized Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, and accelerating a peaceful transition of power via free and fair elections,” according to Southern Command.
