Police in Haiti battle a gang coalition trying…

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Police clashed Monday with gunmen trying to take over one of the few communities in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, not controlled by gangs.

Solino has been attacked since Thursday, along with residents calling radio stations begging for help as they fled their homes. Agents have taken control of several areas as they continue to pursue gang members, Haiti’s National Police said in a statement late Sunday.

In a video posted to social media, gang members raised automatic weapons and cheered as they claimed control of parts of Solino, warning that all those not part of a gang coalition known as “Viv Ansanm” will become “burnt” ashes.”

The coalition has also attacked other neighborhoods, including Tabarre 27, with the attacks forcing more than 4,200 people to flee, according to a report released by the UN’s International Organization for Migration on Monday.

More than 60% of those experiencing homelessness have moved into already overcrowded makeshift shelters that house others who have lost their homes to gang violence in recent years. Others took refuge at a school, a church and a health center, according to the report.

Gangs that control 80% of Port-au-Prince have also threatened journalists covering the latest attacks, calling them by name and ordering their killing.

Viv Ansanm, meaning ‘Living Together’, was formed in September 2023, creating a coalition between two major gang federations that were enemies. It was responsible for launching large-scale attacks on critical government infrastructure, starting in February, ultimately leading to the the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

The coalition has also united in the fight against a UN-backed mission led by Kenyan police to quell gang violence in Haiti. started earlier this year.

After the coalition was formed, armed clashes between gangs fell 78% from March to August, compared to the six months before, according to a report published this month by ACLED, a US nonprofit that collects data on violent conflict worldwide .

“The consolidation of the Viv Ansanm alliance has allowed gangs to focus their resources on criminal activities and confrontations with security forces, rather than engaging in infighting,” the report said.

The report also warned that “despite the volatile relations between gang members, Viv Ansanm is likely to persist as long as she faces the shared threat of an international security force.”