Police protests resumed and govt extended COVID-19 state of emergency amid growing concerns over food shortages. Following violent incidents late April involving armed police protesters demanding back pay, police 11 May arrested seven members of hard-line police organisation Fantom 509, who were protesting near National Police General Inspectorate in capital Port-au-Prince; justice minister same day threatened to designate Fantom 509 as “terrorist organisation”. Fantom 509 blocked roads in Port-au-Prince 15 May to demand release of group member arrested 8 May on murder charges. Amid widespread concern over risk of food shortages, exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic, agriculture minister 7 May said govt focus was on rapid production of crops and 14 May pledged to support farmers and regenerate abandoned agricultural land. Govt 20 May extended state of health emergency for two months. In response to COVID-19 concerns, Dominican Republic 8 May deployed additional troops along border with Haiti to prevent Haitians from crossing border into its territory. Deportation of migrants from U.S. continued despite risk of some being infected with coronavirus; 50 Haitian nationals flown home 11 May.

Opposition challenged govt’s handling of COVID-19 crisis, citing criminal groups’ interference in distribution of aid. After govt late March announced cash transfers to large families, distribution of food kits and bonuses for healthcare workers and police amid fears COVID-19 could worsen dire humanitarian situation, opposition denounced govt’s management of aid distribution. Opposition leader André Michel 3 April said police delivered food kits under supervision of local gang leader in Delmas commune near capital Port-au-Prince. Opposition platform Democratic and Popular Sector 7 April said release of emergency funds did not follow proper procedure, and called for audit and investigation by High Court of Auditors. President Moïse 19 April extended state of health emergency until 20 May. Govt attempts to enforce COVID-19 lockdown and curfew met resistance. Notably, police clashed with bus drivers while trying to prevent public transport from operating between Les Cayes and Port-au-Prince 10 April; no casualties reported. Amid ongoing insecurity, including late March abduction of hospital director, defence minister 9 April announced soldiers would secure medical convoys. Deportation of Haitian nationals from U.S. continued despite risk of contagion; 68 Haitians flown home 7 April and 129 others 30 April.

Political crisis continued as President Moïse, ruling by decree since mid-Jan, named new cabinet despite opposition’s objections, while opposition remained insistent on Moïse’s resignation. Moïse 2 March appointed environment minister and acting economy minister Joseph Jouthe as new PM, 4 March swore in new cabinet. Jouthe 4 March called for “truce” with opposition; next day, opposition platform Democratic and Popular Sector rejected truce, and other members of opposition criticised Jouthe’s “unilateral” appointment as discarding previous efforts to find common ground. After months of tensions within police over creation of union, including 9 March protests by policemen setting up roadblocks, forcibly closing public institutions and assaulting judge in Delmas commune near capital Port-au-Prince, govt 12 March allowed police to unionise. Amid local anger at kidnappings, which have spiked since Dec as gangs look for new sources of income, Boucan-Carré residents 1 March stormed police station, seized four suspected kidnappers and burnt them alive. UN 3 March called for $253mn to help 2.1mn vulnerable people. Amid fears COVID-19 outbreak could worsen dire humanitarian situation, govt 15 March closed borders and forbade flights from 66 countries, excluding the U.S..

Political crisis persisted as President Moïse continued to rule by decree and two-thirds of Senate remained empty. Two rounds of dialogue between govt and opposition mediated by church 30 Jan-1 Feb and 14 Feb failed to produce agreement: opposition remained intransigent on demand that Moïse resign and on reducing length of presidential term; Moïse 7 Feb in interview with Associated Press accepted opposition’s latter demand on condition of constitutional reform strengthening presidential powers. After several senators filed lawsuit against Moïse for ending their period in office in Jan, court proceedings began in late Jan but public prosecutor postponed case after finding president was only liable before High Court of Justice. Amid widespread protests against growing insecurity in capital Port-au-Prince, acting PM Lapin 12 Feb announced new police operation there, deploying more traffic police and increasing road controls; police 17 Feb said operation had led to 100 arrests and seizure of 1,500 vehicles; however, protests and concern over violence continued. Tensions rose within police after head of national police blocked creation of police union in early Feb: hundreds of policemen demonstrated 7 and 17 Feb in capital Port-au-Prince, storming Police General Inspectorate and setting fire to public infrastructure; further police protests left three people dead 23 Feb. Govt next day condemned “attempted coup”. Pro-union police delegates and representatives of police leadership met 27 Feb, but failed to reach agreement.

Political instability loomed as President Moïse started to rule by decree and unveiled controversial plan to reform constitution. Following failure to hold parliamentary and municipal elections in Nov, Moïse 13 Jan announced mandates of lower house deputies and most senators had formally expired; security guards next day denied several senators access to parliament building; several senators said they would file lawsuit against Moïse for ending their mandate, while civil society condemned “dictatorial drift”. Moïse 17 Jan announced plan to overhaul constitution and put new draft to referendum to end “cycle of decades of political crises”; opposition denounced move as unconstitutional. Moïse 29 Jan initiated talks with opposition and civil society to find political solution; key opposition leaders boycotted talks, demanded change of govt. Insecurity persisted with gangs fighting for control of Cité Soleil neighbourhood in capital Port-au-Prince: gang members 11 Jan killed Judge Antoine Lucius; police 12 Jan reportedly extrajudicially killed individual suspected of having killed policeman 11 Jan.

Political and economic instability continued amid political stalemate, although anti-govt protests subsided, with many schools and businesses reopening 2 Dec after more than two months closure due to protests. No significant progress in terms of negotiations between Moïse and opposition, although FM issued statement 12 Dec that private meetings between president and members of opposition have been making progress. President Moïse 7 Dec gave interview stating Haiti is ungovernable under current constitution, which he said limits presidential power. International community continued to support national dialogue, including visit of senior U.S. official 6 Dec for meeting with Moïse and FM; hundreds of protesters marched to U.S. embassy same day demanding Trump administration stop supporting Moïse. Consensual Alternative for the Refoundation of Haiti, an anti-Moïse political platform, 9 Dec rejected U.S.’s recommendation for dialogue among political actors without preconditions or delays. Levels of violence in slums reportedly increased amid security vacuum as police divert resources to dealing with protests; news agency Reuters 10 Dec reported gangs fighting over territory where they extract “protection” fees and carry out drugs and arms trades. Amid worsening humanitarian crisis, violence continued to affect aid distribution.

Political stalemate continued, contributing to deteriorating security and humanitarian situation and violent protests demanding resignation of President Moïse. Turnout at ongoing anti-govt protests reportedly lower, although levels of violence increased; during protest attended by several hundreds people 10 Nov, masked protesters vandalised and looted businesses near Delmas. Journalist, police officer and two protesters wounded by gunfire during small protest in capital 18 Nov. NGO Amnesty International 31 Oct accused police of excessive force against protesters, firing live ammunition after Oct departure of UN peacekeepers. Report from Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 1 Nov stated at least 42 people killed and 86 injured since 15 Sept. With distribution of aid restricted by fuel shortages, roadblocks and protests, and UN reporting almost 3.7 million people in urgent need of food assistance, Moïse 15 Nov called for international support for humanitarian crisis. No significant progress in terms of negotiations, although Moïse claimed in 7 Nov interview that he was holding closed-door talks with civil society groups, private sector and members of opposition, and spoke of need for agreement allowing establishment of a Government of National Unity. Members of opposition met 9 and 10 Nov to discuss transition in case of Moïse’s resignation. The Consensual Alternative, an opposition platform, 20 Nov said they do not intend to negotiate with Moïse. International community continued attempts to facilitate dialogue, with U.S. ambassador to UN meeting with Moïse 20 Nov. U.S. 1 Nov announced extension of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti among other countries until Jan 2021.

Deadly unrest and political deadlock continued despite international attempts to facilitate dialogue, with protesters and opposition parties demanding President Moïse’s resignation. Moïse 2 Oct announced creation of presidential dialogue committee in effort to resolve protracted crisis, but four of seven members resigned shortly after, saying negotiations were futile as Moïse is unwilling to leave power. Opposition rejected dialogue and 4 Oct established committee to set up transitional govt; coalition of 107 civil society organisations 11 Oct announced support for transition. Moïse 15 Oct held press conference reiterating openness to negotiations, but said he would only relinquish power through legal process such as elections (scheduled for 2022); opposition rejected overtures and called for more protests. Amid worsening fuel shortages, anti-govt protests and related violence continued including in capital Port-au-Prince, where one person was killed 17 Oct and one shot dead by police 20 Oct. Several hundred police and supporters 27 Oct demonstrated alongside anti-govt protesters in capital, demanding better salaries; two people killed: first reportedly shot by second, who was then beaten to death and burned by demonstrators. International community attempted to facilitate dialogue; Core Group (UN Sec Gen’s representative, ambassadors of U.S., EU, France, Canada, Brazil and Spain and Organization of American States’ representative) held meetings early Oct with opposition and business community; opposition 4 Oct held protests against interference by Core Group. Armed violence continued including murder of journalist Nehemie Joseph, found shot dead in his car in Mirebalais 10 Oct. UN’s Mission for Justice Support in Haiti mandate ended 15 Oct, replaced by political mission focused on political stability and governance.

Amid widespread public anger over fuel shortages, political tensions increased over tumultuous parliamentary attempts to ratify cabinet and continued opposition calls for President Moïse to resign. Congress 3 Sept approved nomination of PM Michel and his cabinet despite group of opposition deputies vandalising lower house in unsuccessful bid to prevent ratification. Ratification process moved to Senate, which cancelled vote 11 Sept after opposition senators accompanied by dozens of armed militants, led by gang leader Jean Dimens, occupied chamber. Opposition Senator Saurel Jacinthe same day alleged Michel offered several lawmakers thousands of dollars to vote in his favour; Senator Willot Joseph 13 Sept admitted he accepted $100,000 bribe from PM; vote again postponed. Widespread public unrest at fuel shortages continued; demonstrators 2 Sept marched in Port-au-Prince and 17 Sept blocked several roads in capital, demanding President Moïse’s resignation; police 27 Sept reporting four people shot dead in demonstrations 16-25 Sept; mass anti-govt protest held in Port-au-Prince 30 Sept. Senator Féthière 23 Sept shot and injured photojournalist and security guard as he tried to leave parliamentary grounds through protesting crowd. As tensions mounted, Moïse 25 Sept delivered address to the nation at 2am calling for dialogue and unity. Opposition leader André Michel rejected dialogue offer; Moïse cancelled his trip to UN General Assembly but still refused to resign.

Political tensions remained high amid opposition attempts to impeach President Moïse. Parliament 2 Aug announced 7 Aug session to review impeachment motion against Moïse on accusations of treason over his alleged involvement in embezzlement of PetroCaribe (alliance giving Caribbean states access to cheap Venezuelan oil) funds; Chamber of Deputies president Gary Bodeau called off session citing lack of respect for parliamentary rules and 12 Aug called off further session over security concerns; in 21-22 Aug vote, 53 of 61 MPs voted down impeachment measure, with 58 members abstaining. Local media 11 Aug reported PM Michel ready to present his govt plan to Chamber of Deputies in first round of ratification process, though some in opposition continued to insist on Moïse’s resignation before any ratification. Public unrest continued with demonstrators late July until early Aug protesting against Washington’s support for Moïse outside U.S. embassy in Port-au-Prince; embassy security 6 Aug reported gunfire in immediate vicinity of staff housing compound. Amid gang-related violence, national police 8 Aug announced 656 new officers.