In the last few hours, the authorities of the Government of Haiti have confirmed the transfer of 17 Colombian citizens who are detained in the Caribbean country.
This decision comes after an urgent request made by the Colombian Foreign Ministry. to guarantee the safety and physical integrity of compatriots, after a violent attack recorded in the Port-au-Prince civil prison.
On the night of Saturday, March 2, 2024, an armed group perpetrated a violent assault on the civil prison of Port-au-Prince, which resulted in the escape of an undetermined number of people deprived of their liberty. Given this worrying situation, the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a diplomatic note to the Government of Haiti, expressing its concern and requesting protection measures for Colombian citizens detained in the country.
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In the official statement issued today by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, it is stated highlights the Colombian Government’s concern for physical integrity and the security of Colombian citizens in Haiti, as well as diplomatic officials and the headquarters of the Colombian Consulate in Port-au-Prince. Furthermore, it raises the need to evaluate the transfer of detainees to another prison facility that can provide greater security.
The Colombian Government reiterated its solidarity with the Haitian people and its commitment to work bilaterally and regionally to find structural and lasting solutions to the current crisis in Haiti.
This measure to transfer Colombian citizens detained in Haiti is presented as an urgent response to safeguard their lives and guarantee their security amid the situation of instability that the Caribbean country is going through.
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