A state of emergency has been declared in Haiti

Haiti has declared a 72-hour state of emergency and a curfew in the capital and its surroundings because of two mass prison breaks and growing insecurity, AFP reported.

Over the weekend, armed gangs stormed a major prison in Port-au-Prince, killing at least 12 people and freeing some 4,000 inmates.

Gang leaders say they want to force Prime Minister Ariel Henri, who is out of the country, to resign.

The groups seeking to overthrow him control about 80% of Port-au-Prince.

A government statement said two prisons - one in the capital and another in the nearby town of Croix de Bouquet - were stormed over the weekend.

Among those detained in Port-au-Prince are members of gangs accused in connection with the assassination of President Moise in 2021.

The latest burst of violence began on Thursday when the prime minister traveled to Nairobi to discuss sending a Kenyan-led multinational security force to Haiti.

After the assassination of President Moise, violence in Haiti escalated. He was not replaced, and no elections have been held since 2016.

Under a political agreement, elections were to be held and the unelected Ariel Henri was to step down by February 7, but this did not happen.

In January, the UN reported that more than 8,400 people fell victim to rising violence in Haiti last year, including killings, injuries and kidnappings, more than double the number in 2022/BGNES