The coordinator, Josue Merilien, assured that it is a citizen’s duty to demonstrate against acts of banditry, in particular kidnapping, which have increased dramatically in the country.

At least 500 incidents of this kind have taken place between January and May, and the figure has grown in the last two months when several collective kidnappings were reported.

In addition to the pedagogy students, the Matriz Revolución organization led by former senator Antonio Cheramy encouraged a general mobilization to “save Haiti from sinking” and called on the signatories of the Montana agreement to end negotiations with Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

The armed groups control the northern and southern exits of the capital and their clashes have caused at least 500 deaths since the end of April, while hundreds of people were injured and some 20,000 were forced to flee their homes.

The violence also forced the closure of the Faculty of Social Sciences after several projectiles hit the institution and the National School of Arts also announced the suspension of face-to-face classes as a result of the deterioration of the security climate.

Security has deteriorated in Haiti in recent years, but particularly after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, with the Government promising on several occasions to restore peace in the capital, to which end the Police carry out frequent operations in the vulnerable communities, however, they are outnumbered and outgunned by the gangs.

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