Rape, murder and theft have long been facts of life
Haitians have suffered through 19 changes of leadership in the 38 years since the Duvalier dictatorship fell. The 20th is nigh. As The Economist went to press on March 7th, gangs had an iron grip on Port-au-Prince, the capital. The prime minister, Ariel Henry, is currently in Puerto Rico. He is unable to return to the country he ostensibly governs, and is under pressure to step down from gang leaders and interested governments alike.
Haiti has long been a desperately poor, lawless place. Rape, murder and theft are facts of life. The country of 11.5m people has an annual budget of some $2.2bn, half that of the New York City Police Department. This desperate situation was already deteriorating after then-president Jovenel Moïse was assassinated inside his official residence in July 2021. February 29th saw Haiti plunge even deeper into the abyss.
