Haiti: Authorities Return to Downtown Port-au-Prince Streets

Long deserted due to insecurity, iconic areas like the Champ-de-Mars have, this Thursday, September 25, 2025, seen the return of the country's highest authorities. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, accompanied by presidential advisor Leslie Voltaire, walked through the capital's downtown to observe the progress of reconquest operations led by the State against armed groups.

According to the Prime Minister's Office, this visit is part of a broad offensive aimed at restoring order and returning public spaces to citizens. For several weeks, the Haitian National Police (PNH), supported by various state institutions, has been conducting coordinated actions to reclaim neighborhoods long occupied by gangs. Over 2,500 m³ of waste and 500 vehicle carcasses have already been removed, while rehabilitation work is underway to make roads passable and restore essential infrastructure.

At the heart of the Champ-de-Mars, the National Palace illustrates the fragility of the situation. A symbol of the Haitian State, this building, where the Presidential Council should normally sit, has remained deserted for over a year after suffering several armed attacks. Only the vigilance of agents assigned to its protection still prevents it from falling into the hands of criminals. All around, many public or strategic buildings share the same fate: the State University Hospital of Haiti, the country's largest hospital center, the National Penitentiary, markets, transport stations, private businesses, and even ministries remain abandoned, victims of persistent insecurity.

Determined to allow a return to normal life, the government affirms that the capital will not be abandoned. « The State stands. Together, we will reclaim Port-au-Prince and restore to every citizen the right to live in peace and dignity », declared the Prime Minister, promising that operations will continue until security is fully restored.

This presence in the heart of the city, once impassable, sends a strong signal to the population: despite the threats, the State intends to reclaim every street, every square, and restore to downtown Port-au-Prince its role as the engine of national life.

Is this an initiative that will allow elections to be organized? Will law enforcement implement strategies for the consolidation of reclaimed areas?

The editorial team