Death of police officers in anti-gang operation triggered violent unrest and President Moïse sought international support to combat mounting insecurity. Anti-gang operation in Village de Dieu neighbourhood of capital Port-au-Prince 12 March turned violent, leaving at least four special police unit officers dead and eight others wounded. After video showing gang members beating police circulated online, harsh criticism of botched operation and widespread insecurity emerged on social media under #FreeHaiti hashtag, and several days of unrest roiled Port-au-Prince and surroundings, with demonstrators 15 March erecting barricades on city’s main roads. Members of outlawed Fantom 509, group of disgruntled police officers, 17 March protested to demand return of officers’ bodies still held by gang members, also set Delmas police station on fire and freed four jailed comrades accused of participating in 7 Feb alleged coup attempt against President Moïse; next day broke into Croix-des-Bouquets police station, freeing one officer reportedly imprisoned for shooting gang member. Moïse 15 March asked Organization of American States (OAS) Sec Gen Luis Almagro for assistance to deal with security crisis and next day requested UN technical and logistical support for police forces. Govt 18 March declared state of emergency in several areas where gangs exert control. Meanwhile, thousands 7 March demonstrated in Port-au-Prince in massive pro-democracy protest, denounced surge in abductions and called on Moïse to resign. On anniversary of Haitian constitution, thousands 28-29 March took to streets in Port-au-Prince to protest constitutional referendum scheduled for 27 June; Moïse 29 March reiterated need for constitutional reform. OAS 17 March passed resolution welcoming Moïse’s invitation to send Electoral Observation Mission to monitor upcoming constitutional referendum and general elections. Meanwhile, Dominican Republic govt 2 March detailed plan, first announced 27 Feb, to build fence along border with Haiti to curb irregular migration and illicit trade.

Political crisis turned deadly as dispute over presidential term reached stalemate. Tensions ran high as opposition continued to claim throughout month that President Moïse’s mandate expired 7 Feb, while Moïse insisted he had another year in office. On 7 Feb, govt said authorities had foiled coup plot and murder attempt against Moïse and arrested 23 alleged coup plotters, including Supreme Court Justice Yvickel Dieujuste Dabresil; opposition had previously approached Dabresil and two other Supreme Court justices as possible interim president to take over from Moïse until presidential election. Govt 8 Feb issued decree ordering retirement of all three; U.S. embassy in Haiti next day expressed concern “about any actions that risk damaging Haiti’s democratic institutions”. Dabresil released 10 Feb. Meanwhile, opposition 8 Feb created parallel govt, appointing Supreme Court Justice Joseph Mécène Jean-Louis as interim president. UN same day validated electoral calendar put forward by govt, and Organization of American States next day confirmed Moïse’s term ends in 2022. Amid constitutional crisis, security forces cracked down on anti-Moïse protesters: police 7, 8 and 10 Feb violently cleared demonstrations in capital Port-au-Prince, using tear gas and rubber bullets and reportedly wounding several journalists. NGO Committee to Protect Journalists 9 Feb called for investigation into previous day shooting of two journalists covering protest, and regional bloc Caribbean Community 11 Feb expressed anguish over security situation, urged “all stakeholders to be guided by the Constitution, respect for the rule of law and the electoral process”. Thousands of anti-Moïse protesters 14 and 21 Feb took to streets in Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitien, Les Cayes and Mirebalais; police 14 Feb fired rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators who erected barricades in Port-au-Prince, leaving at least one dead and several injured. Thousands 28 Feb marched again in Port-au-Prince in peaceful protest. In country’s biggest prison break in ten years, gang leader and former most wanted fugitive Arnel Joseph 25 Feb escaped Croix-des-Bouquets prison on outskirts of capital with over 400 inmates; authorities 25-26 Feb reportedly killed 25, including Joseph. Hardline police organisation Fantom 509 and elite police unit early Feb clashed in Port-au-Prince, reportedly leaving five dead.

Political crisis and widespread insecurity persisted, and violence could escalate when deadline set by opposition for President Moïse to step down expires in Feb. In open letter to Organization of American States (OAS) Sec Gen Luis Almagro, group of opposition leaders 2 Jan accused Moïse of having “deliberately refused to organise legislative elections” in late 2019 to start ruling by decree, and denounced “return to dictatorship”; Almagro 6 Jan reiterated OAS support for govt’s plan to organise electoral process this year. Provisional Electoral Council 8 Jan scheduled constitutional referendum for 25 April, first round of presidential and legislative elections for 19 Sept, and run-offs for 21 Nov, along with municipal and local elections. Hundreds 15 Jan demonstrated across country, rejecting electoral calendar and calling for Moïse to step down by 7 Feb, pursuant to argument that Moïse’s five-year mandate started in 2016 (Moïse maintains his term began when he took office in 2017); brief clashes between protesters and police reported in capital Port-au-Prince. Hundreds 20 Jan again marched through Port-au-Prince to demand Moïse’s resignation, clashed with police, leaving several injured. Gang and criminal violence remained high. Police 2 Jan carried out operation against alleged “heavily armed bandits in military uniforms” in Cannan suburb on outskirts of Port-au-Prince, reportedly killing at least three and arresting seven. Unidentified gunmen 3-7 Jan kidnapped three police officers and killed another in Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet 19 Jan expressed concern that “persistent insecurity, poverty and structural inequalities in Haiti coupled with increasing political tensions may lead to a pattern of public discontent followed by violent police repression and other human rights violations”. In rare move, Moïse 25 Jan acknowledged surge in kidnappings for ransom, urged citizens to assist police to quell gang violence.

Gang violence continued while authorities pursued efforts to reform constitution despite criticism. Suspected G9 coalition of gangs 3 Dec attacked police patrols in capital Port-au-Prince’s Village de Dieu, Grand Ravine and Delmas areas; no casualties reported. Unidentified gunmen next day shot dead three men in Port-au-Prince’s Pétion-Ville commune. Clashes between rival gangs in Croix-des-Bouquets commune outside capital 17 Dec killed four. General Police Inspectorate 8 Dec questioned 70 police officers suspected of being part of Fantom 509 gang. Anti-govt demonstrations continued throughout month: thousands 10 Dec protested against spike in kidnappings in Gonaïves commune, Artibonite department (north), and Port-au-Prince, where they clashed with security forces. Meanwhile, govt pursued efforts to reform constitution despite widespread criticism from opposition, which views move as illegal: committee in charge of drafting new constitution early Dec said preliminary draft would be ready by 26 Feb and constitutional referendum would take place in March. Core Group for Haiti, which includes U.S., UN, Organization of American States and EU, 12 Dec expressed concern about broad powers conferred by two presidential decrees; Core Group said Nov decree creating National Agency of Intelligence (ANI) confers “quasi-judicial immunity [to ANI agents], thus opening the possibility of abuse”, and another extends qualification of “terrorist act” to wide range of offences. Special adviser to President Moïse 16 Dec announced amendments to ANI decree. U.S. Treasury 10 Dec sanctioned two former govt officials and one former police officer for their alleged involvement in gang-led attack which killed 71 in Port-au-Prince’s La Saline neighbourhood in Nov 2018. U.S. 7 Dec extended Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals, which allows them to live and work in U.S., until Oct 2021.

Insecurity remained high and political tensions increased over govt’s plan to reform constitution. Thousands 5 Nov demonstrated in capital Port-au-Prince against insecurity after rape and murder of female student, whose body was found 1 Nov in Delmas commune near Port-au-Prince; police used tear gas to disperse crowd. Police 9 Nov said three men had confessed to murder, including one whom G9 coalition of gangs had handed over to police 4 Nov. UN Integrated Office in Haiti 4 Nov said it was “very concerned about worsening security situation” including attacks by “armed gangs against the population”. Meanwhile, opposition party CPHREN 11 Nov rejected govt’s attempts to reform constitution before legislative elections, citing lack of cross-party agreement; move followed President Jovenel Moïse’s 30 Oct appointment of advisory committee to draft new constitution, which would then be submitted to referendum by March 2021. Several hundred anti-govt protesters under leadership of opposition party Pitit Desalin’s chairman Jean-Charles Moïse 18 Nov gathered in Tabarre commune near Port-au-Prince, calling for president to resign and U.S. to withdraw its support; police cracked down on protesters, reportedly killing one and injuring two others. Govt 11 Nov declared “red alert” amid rise in COVID-19 cases.

High levels of gang violence and social unrest persisted. Death of student, reportedly shot in back by security guard during unemployment-related protest in capital Port-au-Prince 2 Oct, sparked days of social unrest. Protesters burned cars and blocked roads in several of capital’s neighbourhoods; in response, security forces fired tear gas and live ammunition to disperse crowds, reportedly killing demonstrator 5 Oct. Meanwhile, gang violence remained high. Notably, gunmen on motorcycle 6 Oct shot dead police inspector on road to Port-au-Prince; assailants allegedly belonging to G9 coalition of gangs same day set houses alight and fired gunshots in Port-au-Prince’s Bel Air neighbourhood, toll unknown. In statement to UN Security Council, UN Special Representative Helen La Lime 5 Oct said late Aug murder of prominent lawyer and govt critic Monferrier Dorval “epitomizes for many the weak state of rule of law in the country” and expressed concern that unrest “has become increasingly prevalent” in past few months; Security Council 15 Oct extended mandate of UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), tasked to support political stability and governance, until Oct 2021. Election officials 2 Oct reiterated legislative, presidential and municipal elections would take place “in the next months”; move follows Sept and early Oct protests in Port-au-Prince against President Moïse’s appointment of electoral council by decree. Amid economic, political and security crisis, Haitians continued to seek refuge abroad. Turks and Caicos Islands authorities 9 Oct intercepted boat carrying 206 Haitian migrants in Caribbean Sea. Dominican Republic 15 Oct deployed about 10,000 soldiers to border with Haiti to prevent undocumented migrants from crossing.

Series of protests erupted throughout month amid persistently high levels of criminal violence. Police remained on “high alert” across country following late Aug murder of twelve people in capital Port-au-Prince by suspected gang members led by Jimmy Chérisier, alias Barbecue. Police 2 Sept arrested suspected leader of G9 coalition of gangs Albert Stevenson, alias Djouma; after G9’s 7 Sept ultimatum for his release expired, dozens 9 Sept protested near Port-au-Prince airport to demand his release. Anti-govt protesters 8 Sept clashed with security forces in Port-au-Prince and reportedly burned several govt vehicles; demonstrators accused President Moïse of orchestrating late Aug murder of prominent lawyer and govt critic Monferrier Dorval, which Moïse denied. Hundreds of armed police officers from hardline police organisation Fantom 509 and their supporters 15 Sept blocked roads and set cars on fire in Port-au-Prince, demanding higher salaries plus release of police officer jailed since May on murder and arson charges, and accusing interim director of national police Normil Rameau, who launched six-month anti-gang operation in Aug, of failing to defend their interests; authorities 25 Sept released officer. National Food Security Coordination 9 Sept said 4mn people are food insecure in Haiti, up from 3.7mn in Sept 2019, as border with Dominican Republic remained closed amid COVID-19 pandemic.

President Moïse announced elections for 2021, while gang-related violence remained high. After seven months of ruling by decree, Moïse 16 Aug said legislative elections, which have been delayed since 2019, would be held in 2021 alongside presidential and municipal elections. More than 300 opposition parties and civil society groups 21 Aug ruled out participating in elections. Insecurity remained high. Gunmen 3 Aug attacked minibus in Ganthier city, killing two including baby; PM Jouthe next day criticised police for being unable to protect citizens. Gunmen 28 Aug killed prominent lawyer in capital Port-au-Prince hours after he addressed political and security crisis in radio interview. Three individuals including policeman night of 5-6 Aug stormed hospital in Port-au-Prince, damaging vehicles and ransacking parts of building. NGO National Network for the Defence of Human Rights 13 Aug said in new report at least 111 people were killed, 20 others wounded and 48 went missing in Port-au-Prince’s Cité Soleil 1 June-28 July. Amid media reports that govt has been downplaying number of COVID-19 cases, schools reopened 10 Aug following end of state of health emergency in July. Famine Early Warning Systems Network late Aug warned against rising prices for food staples after flagging risk of crisis levels of food insecurity in several regions in July.

Political tensions emerged over new penal code, while gang-related violence persisted. After President Moïse late June published decree on new penal code due to come into effect in 2022, conservative opposition throughout month condemned code for lowering age of consent to 15 and legalising abortion, while liberal opposition denounced lack of debate; Senate president 7 July called upon Moïse to form commission to amend code; thousands of Haitians of Protestant faith 26 July protested “immoral” code in capital Port-au-Prince. Meanwhile, insecurity remained high. Following June creation of G9 coalition of gangs in Port-au-Prince, opposition and civil society early July claimed group is involved in pro-govt electoral deals, govt denied accusations; over 50 armed G9 members 7 July protested in Port-au-Prince demanding legal recognition as local authorities in areas they control. Hundreds of civil society activists 6 July staged peaceful sit-in in Port-au-Prince to denounce insecurity, following similar action 29 June; police reportedly used live ammunition to clear crowds; in response, Moïse 9 July replaced justice minister. Episcopal Justice and Peace Commission 11 July said gang violence left 244 people killed in first six months of 2020. Govt 2 July suspended pardons to 415 prisoners, granted by Moïse in June to prevent COVID-19 spread in prisons, after human rights groups criticised govt for freeing inmates convicted of serious offences.

Amid persistent political crisis and insecurity, tensions emerged over electoral calendar. Govt repeatedly argued that President Moïse’s term ends 7 Feb 2022 while opposition claimed term ends a year earlier; divergence caused by differing interpretations of political crisis that followed Oct 2015 presidential election. Organization of American States Sec Gen Almagro 5 June stated Moïse’s term should end in 2022, prompting several human rights groups and opposition parties to accuse regional body of “meddling in Haitian affairs”. Tensions between govt and hardline police organisation Fantom 509 continued. Fantom 509 7 June erected barricades and set tyres alight in capital Port-au-Prince to demand Moïse’s resignation; justice minister 10 June claimed group had “terrorist” intentions. Amid ongoing concerns over insecurity, PM Jouthe 25 June said govt was looking into allegations by human rights organisations that criminal groups were using police armoured vehicles; unidentified gunmen 27 June killed three at meeting of political party Regroupement des Patriotes Responsables in Port-au-Prince’s Delmas commune. Pan American Health Organization 16 June reported “worrying trend” of high COVID-19 transmission in border region between Haiti and Dominican Republic. Deportation of migrants from U.S. continued; deportees included former paramilitary leader Emmanuel Toto Constant, whom authorities arrested upon his arrival 23 June on charges of murder and torture in 1990s.