An injured person lies on the ground after armed men opened fire on a group of journalists who gathered for a government press conference set to announce the reopening of Haiti's largest public hospital, a witness to the attack told Reuters, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti December 24, 2024.
The dismissal of Dr Duckenson Lorthe, Haiti's Minister of Public Health and Population, has exposed a lack of coordination between some government officials and Kenyan officers leading a UN-backed Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission.
Dr Lorthe was sacked following a tragic incident at the reopening of the University Hospital of Haiti (HUEH) in which two journalists and a police officer were killed. The attack was carried out by the Viv Ansamm gang.
He was dismissed after a meeting between President Leslie Voltaire and Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.
Justice Minister Patrick Pélissier will temporarily take over as health minister until a permanent replacement is found.
A Kenyan officer on the MSS mission, who spoke to Nation.Africa on condition of anonymity, said the police force had not been informed of the appointment, in a departure from normal protocols.
"We were never informed of this function. Normally, we are always informed about such events and we conduct patrols before they take place," the officer said.
He added that the MSS mission's security services would have secured the area and provided round-the-clock surveillance if they had been informed of the event.
The Transitional Council, which is charged with restoring democratic order in Haiti, considers Dr Lorthe a prime suspect in the attack, which left several people injured.
Dr Lorthe's team insists that his office was well prepared for the event.
The Haitian Journalists' Association confirmed that two reporters - Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean - and a police officer were killed.
Seven reporters were wounded in what it called "a macabre scene comparable to terrorism, pure and simple".
Journalists who spoke after the attack said they had received a formal invitation to attend the hospital's reopening.
"It was an invitation similar to the one we received for the reopening of the Isaie Jeanty maternity hospital. Only the date and place changed," said Arnold Junior, a radio reporter who witnessed the event at the HUEH hospital.
He added that when he arrived at the hospital where the event was to take place, he noticed an armoured personnel carrier of the Haitian National Police (HNP) patrolling the area.
The officers later told them that they had not been informed of the plans to open the hospital.
Arnold Junior said his life was saved by a woman who signalled him as armed gang members approached the hospital to take a photograph.
The attack comes at a time when Haiti's Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé has been focusing on improving health services in his country by reopening hospitals that have been closed for years.
Meanwhile, this week MSS Commander General Godfrey Otunge led a fanfare at the Hotel Karibe in Haiti, where they hosted hundreds of children to celebrate the festive season.
According to Mr Otunge, children in Haiti remain vulnerable and have also become targets for the gangs who forcefully recruit them.
"Most children in Artibonite remain vulnerable, so we need to protect their environment and create a safe place for them. This can only be achieved through the collaboration of various stakeholders from the government, NGOs and international organisations," he said.
Mr Otunge said the children were from disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Port-au-Prince.
"MSS will do whatever it takes to ensure that the children go back to school and live in a peaceful environment without the sound of guns and gang activities," he said.
During the MSS-led event, the children also received medical care and treatment.
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