Dj Vnyash
Haiti has shut down its main airport just a month after the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission reclaimed it from gang control.
The closure, announced on Monday, November 11, followed an attack on a U.S. airline. Suspected gang members fired at the plane during its final approach to Toussaint-Louverture International Airport, prompting authorities to suspend operations. The attack highlights the nation’s ongoing gang violence.
The flight, originating from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was rerouted to the Dominican Republic after the incident. According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the plane landed safely despite sustaining damage consistent with gunfire. A flight attendant reported minor injuries and received medical attention, while no passenger injuries were reported.
The MSS security contingent, led by Kenya, had announced last month that they had successfully reclaimed the airport from gang control. Mission Commander Godfrey Otunge revealed that police were demolishing gang hideouts near the airport as part of efforts to secure the area and prevent further disruptions.
Earlier this year, gangs had seized the airport and surrounding buildings to dominate operations and control imports into the country. Their occupation was a significant challenge to Haiti’s stability, further exacerbated by recent political turmoil.
On November 10, Haiti’s transitional council dismissed interim Prime Minister Gary Conille, replacing him with businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aime. Conille’s removal came shortly after his visit to Kenya to discuss security cooperation with President William Ruto following deadly gang attacks in Central Haiti.
The MSS mission reaffirmed its commitment to securing critical infrastructure and assisting the Haitian National Police in combating gang violence, vowing to maintain stability amidst the crisis.
