Haiti’s PM Ariel Henry has been forced to travel to Puerto Rico after being unable to return home as gang violence takes hold of the Caribbean nation. Soldiers were deployed to the airport in the capital Port-au-Prince after gangs – who have united under the leadership of former police officer Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Chérizier – attempted to seize control using heavy gunfire. It follows weeks of unrest that have seen armed gangs call on Henry to resign, and on Monday, a state of emergency was declared after an attack on a prison freed thousands of inmates. Haiti’s political situation has been volatile since the murder of Henry’s predecessor President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. That has led to a drawn-out investigation in which 50 people – including his wife – were charged over his assassination last month.