Haiti’s interim Prime Minister Garry Conille faced a harrowing ordeal Monday when gunshots erupted during his visit to the Hospital of the State University of Haiti, commonly known as the General Hospital.
Conille was at the facility, which had previously been destroyed by gang violence, for an interview with CNN when the incident occurred.
As Conille spoke with CNN, the sound of prolonged gunfire could be heard from a nearby neighborhood. Despite the unsettling noise, the prime minister continued with the interview, reflecting the unfortunate normalcy of such violence in Port-au-Prince.
Upon concluding his visit, security forces fired shots to cover Conille’s exit from the hospital. Both the CNN team and Haitian officials were quickly driven away, with additional gunfire echoing as they entered the main road. According to a statement from the Haitian National Police and the Multinational Security Support (MSS), a Kenyan-led security force, the final shots were fired by troops providing cover for Conille’s departure.
The statement further detailed that national police and MSS forces “followed up where the shots had been fired from the neighborhood and pacified the area.” Fortunately, no one was injured, and Conille was safely returned to his office.
This incident follows Conille’s earlier visit to the same hospital this month alongside Haiti’s police chief. At that time, authorities had just regained control of the facility from armed gangs, and Conille described the scene as a “war zone.”
Haiti remains in turmoil, grappling with deadly gang violence and political instability that surged in February. Critical infrastructure, including the capital’s international airport and seaport, was attacked by gangs, disrupting vital supply lines of food and aid. Although the Haitian National Police reclaimed control of the infrastructure in early summer, resurgent gang activity necessitated further intervention by joint HNP/MSS forces.
Conille’s visit was conducted with heavy security, including a convoy of a dozen vehicles, numerous armed Haitian and Kenyan police officers, the Haitian police chief, the Kenyan force commander, and a dedicated security team for the interim prime minister.
The ongoing crisis led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry in March, plunging the country into political uncertainty. Conille was appointed as interim prime minister in May, tasked with leading Haiti through the transition period towards new elections. He previously served briefly as prime minister from 2011 to 2012 during Michel Martelly’s presidency.
As the government works to rebuild, Port-au-Prince remains largely isolated from the international community. Across Haiti, nearly 5 million people are experiencing acute food insecurity. The long-awaited MSS mission, led by Kenya, began arriving in late June to support local police in combating the gangs that have overrun the capital.
