Haiti’s main airport closed due to increased gang violence

Haiti’s international airport in Port-Au-Prince was closed on Monday after gangs opened fire on a landing commercial plane.

Spirit Airlines from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was hundreds of feet from landing when it was hit by gunfire and was forced to divert to the Dominican Republic.

According to the AP, no deaths were reported; They only suffered minor injuries after the flight attendant was grazed by a bullet.

Many airlines were also forced to temporarily suspend their operations after the incident, which occurred when the country swore in Alix Didier Fils-Aimé as the new interim prime minister.

Didier replaced Garry Conille, who was dismissed by the country’s Transitional Council, which was established in April.

Speaking after swearing, he vowed to restore peace and ensure no more lives were lost.

“I am very sorry for the people who were victimized and had to give up everything they had,” he said.

The aim of the council was to pave the way for democratic elections, which have not been held since 2016.

Over the past few weeks, the country has witnessed political chaos as gangs operating in the country clashed with police on the streets.

Although the Kenya-led Multinational Security Assistance (MSS) has made some progress, the force faces challenges such as funding, personnel and equipment to fully rid the country of criminal gangs that control 85 percent of the Port. Au-Prince.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) extended the mandate of the force for another year after this period expired last month.

There were calls for the mission to be transformed into a UN peacekeeping mission.

Kenya is set to deploy a third group of 600 men this month to strengthen gang clearance operations.

At least 10 countries have pledged to send a total of 2,900 troops to participate in the mission.

But only 430 people have been deployed since the UN-mandated mission began in June; about 400 of them were from Kenya.