Détails

Catégorie : En Bref

Création : 24 mars 2026

21 mars 2026 - WASHINGTON, samedi 2- mars 2026 (RHINEWS)- Le président américain Donald Trump a menacé samedi de déployer des agents fédéraux de l’immigration dans les aéroports du pays si les démocrates au Congrès n’acceptent pas immédiatement de financer le département de la Sécurité intérieure (DHS), dans un contexte de blocage budgétaire persistant.
Ce bras de fer intervient alors que les fonds alloués à l’Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), ainsi qu’à d’autres agences du DHS, sont partiellement bloqués en raison du désaccord entre la Maison Blanche et le Congrès, entraînant un ralentissement des opérations et plaçant plusieurs services fédéraux en situation de fonctionnement limité depuis le début de la fermeture partielle de l’administration.
Dans un message publié sur son réseau Truth Social, le président a déclaré : « I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Security like no one has ever seen before », affirmant vouloir redéployer ces agents pour assurer la sécurité aéroportuaire.
Selon Donald Trump, ces agents seraient chargés notamment d’interpeller des migrants en situation irrégulière présents sur le territoire américain, en mentionnant explicitement des ressortissants somaliens parmi les personnes ciblées.
Dans un second message publié plus tard dans la journée, le président a indiqué vouloir procéder à ce redéploiement dès lundi, déclarant : « I look forward to moving ICE in on Monday, and have already told them to, ‘GET READY.’ NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES! ».
La Maison Blanche, sollicitée pour commenter ces annonces, a renvoyé vers les publications du président, tandis que le département de la Sécurité intérieure n’a pas répondu dans l’immédiat aux demandes de précisions.
Parallèlement, Elon Musk, dirigeant de Tesla et ancien conseiller de l’administration Trump, a proposé de couvrir la rémunération des agents de la Transportation Security Administration (TSA) pendant la durée de la fermeture partielle du gouvernement.
Cette initiative intervient alors que de nombreux employés fédéraux affectés à la sécurité des transports se retrouvent sans salaire en raison du blocage budgétaire, une situation qui suscite des inquiétudes quant à la continuité des opérations dans les aéroports.
Selon des informations rapportées par des médias américains, un groupe bipartisan de sénateurs a rencontré récemment le responsable chargé des questions frontalières au DHS, Tom Homan, afin de discuter de nouvelles concessions en matière de politique migratoire proposées par la Maison Blanche pour tenter de débloquer la situation.
Le Sénat, actuellement en session durant le week-end, poursuit ses travaux sur d’autres dossiers législatifs, sans qu’il soit établi à ce stade si de nouvelles négociations ou un vote sur un projet de financement du DHS interviendront à court terme.

Détails

Catégorie : En Bref

Création : 24 mars 2026

The airplane arriving from Miami experienced braking issues on a waterlogged runway due to heavy rains, but passengers and crew were evacuated safely
by Jordany Junior Verdieu Mar. 20, 2026
The Haitian Times
International Airport in Les Cayes, where the IBC Airways plane, registered as N27IBC, accidentally landed on Friday, March 20, 2026. Photo by Jorday Junior Verdieu for The Haitian Times
Overview:
An IBC Airways plane skidded off the runway Friday while landing at Antoine Simon International Airport in Les Cayes amid heavy rains. The aircraft, carrying about 10 passengers on a flight from Miami to Haiti’s southern city, experienced braking issues on a flooded runway, officials said. No injuries were reported.
LES CAYES — A plane operated by Florida-based carrier IBC Airways skidded off the runway Friday afternoon while landing at Antoine Simon International Airport in Les Cayes, as heavy rains left the airstrip flooded and hazardous.
The aircraft, carrying about 10 passengers on a flight from Miami, experienced braking difficulties upon landing, according to airport and company officials who spoke with The Haitian Times.
The plane came to a stop in the airport’s safety zone, with its nose extending toward National Road 7, just outside the perimeter fence. No injuries or fatalities were reported, though passengers were shaken by the incident.
As the aircraft approached Les Cayes—the capital city of the South Department—in heavy rain and low visibility, it was forced to circle multiple times before attempting to land, a crew member said.
The plane eventually touched down midway along the runway, reducing the available braking distance. The pilot, facing limited visibility, struggled to stabilize the approach before the aircraft veered off course, struck part of the airport fence and exited toward the roadside.
Four other aircraft were on the apron at the time but were not affected.
The incident occurred as Haiti’s southern region remains under a yellow weather alert due to forecasts of heavy rainfall.
Limited air travel options heighten risks
The runway excursion underscores broader concerns about air travel safety in Haiti, where infrastructure limitations and weather-related vulnerabilities continue to pose risks.
IBC Airways is currently the only U.S.-based commercial carrier operating flights to Haiti, following a Federal Aviation Administration ban on U.S. airlines in November 2024 due to security concerns. The FAA has prohibited them from flying below 10,000 feet over parts of the country near the capital. The restrictions have been repeatedly extended, most recently through September 2026.
IBC launched its Miami–Les Cayes route in November 2025, offering one of the few direct international connections to southern Haiti. Travelers often rely on limited alternatives, including connections through Cap-Haïtien with Sunrise Airways.
Airport authorities secure the section of the roadside by the Antoine Simon International Airport in Les Cayes, where the IBC Airways plane landed accidentally on March 20, 2026, to avoid aftermath casualties. Photo by Jordany Junior Verdieu for The Haitian Times.
Friday’s incident also renews concerns about the resilience of Haiti’s airport infrastructure, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall, when flooding and limited visibility can significantly increase operational risks.

Détails

Catégorie : En Bref

Création : 24 mars 2026

Abduction comes a day after armed men attacked the home of veteran journalist and director of Radio Kiskeya, Marvel Dandin—highlighting rising dangers for reporters
by Juhakenson Blaise Mar. 14, 2026
The Haitian Times
Overview:
Two Haitian journalists, Osnel Espérance of Radio Uni FM and Junior Célestin of Radio Television Megastar, were kidnapped on Friday in downtown Port-au-Prince by members of the Viv Ansanm gang coalition while reporting in the field. The abduction occurred amid ongoing clashes between police and gangs linked to the FBI-wanted man, Johnson “Izo” André, heightening alarm within Haiti’s media community.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Two Haitian journalists were kidnapped Friday in downtown Port-au-Prince by armed members of the gang coalition Viv Ansanm, their employers said. This double abduction, along with an attack at a veteran journalist’s residence a day earlier, raises new concerns about the safety of media workers in Haiti— particularly in the capital.
The victims, Osnel Espérance of Radio Uni FM and Junior Célestin of Radio Television Megastar, were abducted while reporting in the lower part of the city.
The gang members involved are believed to be affiliated with the Village de Dieu group led by the FBI-wanted notorious man Johnson “Izo” André, which has been clashing with Haitian National Police units in the area since March 12. Authorities have not released information about the journalists’ condition or possible ransom demands.
“On Friday, journalists Osnel Espérance (Uni FM) and Junior Célestin (Megastar) were captured by armed members of Viv Ansanm in Port-au-Prince while carrying out their reporting duties in the field. We demand their immediate release,” Radio Uni FM wrote on X.
The kidnapping comes amid intensified police operations in several neighborhoods of downtown Port-au-Prince, including Bel-Air, Grand-Rue, Rue Joseph Janvier and Bicentenaire, areas where gangs maintain a strong presence.
Police units — supported by a task force from the Prime Minister’s Office — have been deployed as part of the offensive, which has included the use of explosive drones against gang positions.
The clashes have also resulted in civilian casualties. At least six civilians were killed, including two schoolgirls and their father, on Rue Chareron in downtown Port-au-Prince on Wednesday.
Unverified information circulating on social media suggests gang members may have accused the journalists of acting as police informants after seeing them filming in the area. Police have not publicly commented on the kidnapping, which reportedly occurred near the city soccer stadium ( Stade Sylvio Cator) and the main cemetery — locations long under gang influence.
The abduction occurred one day after another attack targeting a prominent Haitian journalist.
On Thursday night, armed men attempted to break into the home of Marvel Dandin, director of Radio Kiskeya, in the Soisson neighborhood of Thomassin, in the Pétion-Ville district.
According to Dandin, about seven men armed with 9 mm pistols tried to force their way into his apartment, attempting to break through the door and a wall to reach his bedroom before opening fire toward the residence.
Dandin said the attackers appeared to know the house and its occupants, suggesting the assault may have been targeted.
“I won’t pretend that the situation left me unscathed; it had a major impact, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone,” the journalist said. “It’s humanly difficult to endure.”
The incidents highlight the growing dangers faced by journalists in Haiti, where insecurity has forced many reporters to work under extreme conditions, navigating gang-controlled neighborhoods and increasing threats.
According to Reporters Without Borders, journalism in Haiti has faced an unprecedented security crisis since 2022, when at least six journalists were killed in connection with their work.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also reported that at least six journalists were kidnapped by gangs in 2023, with additional cases reported in 2024, including the abduction of reporter Valéry Pierre in the Artibonite region.
“Judicial authorities must investigate these incidents. Haiti is one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists,” CPJ said. The organization has documented nine journalists killed since 2021, six of them in direct connection with their reporting.
As insecurity deepens, other press freedom advocates—joining CPJ’s voice—are calling for urgent measures to protect journalists and ensure the public’s right to information.

Détails

Catégorie : En Bref

Création : 24 mars 2026

Departure of 215 officers for Nairobi signals a shift to the Gang Suppression Force, with troops from Chad expected to arrive in April
by Juhakenson Blaise Mar. 20, 2026
The Haitian Times
Overview:
A contingent of 215 Kenyan police officers left Haiti on March 17 as the Multinational Security Support mission began transitioning to a new United Nations-backed force, the Gang Suppression Force (GSF). The shift comes amid criticism of Haiti’s exclusion from planning and ongoing security challenges.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — A group of 215 Kenyan police officers left Haiti this week, part of a broader withdrawal under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission as it transitions to a new United Nations-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF). Troops from participating countries, such as the Bahamas, also began leaving.
The Kenyan-led mission, deployed in June 2024 to support the Haitian National Police (PNH) in combating armed gangs, is being phased out through April 15.
The officers departed from Port-au-Prince March 17 and arrived in Nairobi later that night, aboard a Kenya Airways flight, accompanied by senior police officials, according to local media reports. Their departure follows an earlier withdrawal of more than 100 officers in December 2025.
“Yes, I confirm that Kenya is reducing the number of its troops in order to prepare for the arrival of a larger contingent of GSF personnel,” said Jack Mbaka, communications officer for the multinational mission. “This process aims to ensure a smooth transition.”
Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the country had fulfilled its role under the mandate.
“Our participation was guided by human solidarity,” Mudavadi said. “Kenya has completed its mandate following United Nations Security Council Resolution 2793 [2025], which transferred the MSS mission to the GSF.”
Transition to a new force
The GSF, a multinational operation approved by the UN Security Council in October, is expected to arrive in Haiti in early April with a broader mandate to directly target armed groups.
Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez told Reuters that troops from Chad are currently training in the United States and will begin replacing Kenyan officers as part of the transition, which is expected to continue through October 2026.
The new force is projected to include about 5,500 personnel and will receive logistical and operational support from a U.N. office in Port-au-Prince, including weapons, equipment and funding through a trust fund supported by member states.
Despite those plans, questions remain about leadership and the role of Kenyan personnel in the new structure. The mission’s communications office did not respond to requests for clarification.
“Our participation was guided by human solidarity.”
Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary
normal
The MSS mission, initially expected to deploy 2,500 personnel, never reached that goal, with fewer than 1,000 officers—mostly Kenyan—on the ground. Its estimated $600 million annual budget was also never fully secured.
Members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force also began returning home, with a contingent departing Haiti on March 13.
Commander Julian Smith, chargé d’affaires of The Bahamas in Haiti, said his country would continue supporting Haiti through diplomacy and training for local security forces.
Haiti’s exclusion criticized, violence persists amid transition
The transition has drawn criticism after a recent meeting between U.S. and Dominican officials on Haiti’s security future excluded Haitian representatives.
Reginald Dumé, head of the sociopolitical group Petro-Challenger, said the omission reflects deeper concerns about national sovereignty.
“This situation reveals a deeper crisis related to the country’s sovereignty,” Dumé told The Haitian Times. “Haiti no longer has full capacity to make its own decisions.”
Critics say the absence of Haitian authorities from key discussions undermines the legitimacy of international interventions in the country.
As the MSS mission winds down and the GSF prepares to take over, many Haitians say they have yet to see meaningful improvements in security on the ground.
More than 11,000 people were killed between early 2024 and the end of 2025 in gang-related violence, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Over 1.4 million people have been displaced, about half of them children.
Armed groups control more than 85% of Port-au-Prince, crippling economic activity, while more than 5.7 million people face severe food insecurity.
Meanwhile, Haitian police continue operations against gangs, including ongoing clashes with the Viv Ansanm coalition in downtown Port-au-Prince since March 16. The violence has left civilians dead, including two schoolchildren and their father, and has unfolded alongside kidnappings of journalists.