Heavy gunfire near Haiti's National Palace in Port-au-Prince

Haiti remains in a state of emergency in the face of violence, in Port-au-Prince

A woman with a gunshot wound is transported by two men on a motorcycle as Haiti remains in state of emergency due to the violence, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti March 9, 2024. REUTERS/Ralph Tedy Erol

Source: REUTERS

Heavy gunfire was seen on Friday near Haiti's national palace in its capital of Port-au-Prince, according to reports by news agency EFE, in the midst of political turmoil sparked by Prime Minister Ariel Henry's absence.

Haiti entered a state of emergency last Sunday after fighting escalated, armed gangs broke inmates out of prison , and an estimated over ten thousand people were displaced while Henry was in Kenya seeking a deal for an international force to fight Haiti's gangs.

The United States earlier this week called on Haiti's prime minister to expedite a political transition as armed gangs seek his ouster.

Henry, Haiti's unelected interim leader, landed in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico on Tuesday.

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.

By Reuters