In Haiti’s capital, armed gangs engaged in a days-long gun battle with police, resulting in the release of approximately 4,000 inmates from the nation’s largest prison on Sunday.

Reports from local media indicate that the majority of the 4,000 men held in the Port-au-Prince jail successfully escaped.

Many of these inmates were gang members facing charges related to the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise.

The assault on the prison occurred over the weekend when Prime Minister Ariel Henry was away from the country, visiting Kenya to seek support in combating domestic gangs, Fox News reported.

Jimmy Cherizier, a former police officer and gang leader, called for various armed groups to overthrow Henry’s regime.

The gangs targeted both the National Penitentiary and the country’s main container port.

While Henry had pledged to resign by the end of February, he argued that overcoming gang violence was a prerequisite for conducting free and fair elections.

Haiti has not held an election since 2016.

Written by B.C. Begley