A COALITION of gangs in Haiti attacked one of the few districts in the country’s capital not under their control on Saturday.

After a week of clashes with the police in the Solino neighbourhood in Port-au-Prince, members of the Viv Ansanm (Living Together) gang alliance torched homes as national police union SPNH-17 warned that the area was under almost total control of the gunmen and demanded the resignation of authorities.

Security forces and gunmen exchanged fire not far from Solino’s police base as social media images showed the neighbourhood engulfed in smoke and flames. Many people were seen leaving the area with whatever they could carry.

The nearby district of Nazon also came under attack.

Viv Ansanm formed in September 2023 as a coalition of two gang federations that were previously enemies. It was responsible for attacks on critical government infrastructure in February that eventually led to the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

On Thursday, the gangs also opened fire and hit a United Nations helicopter, forcing it to make an emergency landing in Port-au-Prince; on Friday one US airline temporarily cancelled flights to the capital. 

Since last week, residents in Solino have been calling radio stations pleading for help as they flee their homes. Resident Garry Jean-Joseph blamed the police for the ongoing violence. 

“I left with nothing,” he said. “The people of Solino do not understand the conspiracy of the policemen and Viv Ansanm soldiers.”

Some officers with Haiti’s national police have been long accused of corruption and working with gangs.

As violence has surged across Haiti’s capital and beyond in recent days, concerns have been raised that a US-backed mission led by Kenyan police is struggling to contain the unrest.