The Caribbean country of Haiti is once again the center of attention due to massive turmoil and uncertainty in the country.
Last week, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry fled to Puerto Rico as rival militias centered on the capital Port-au-Prince.
The militias are centered around the rampant network of criminal gangs in Haiti and headed by noted mobster Jimmy Chérizier, also known as "Barbecue".
Also read
Chérizier has stated that his gangs are now hell-bent on overthrowing the Haitian government and seizing power for themselves and his para-military forces clearly seem to have the upper hand against the government forces.
Over the weekend, reports and videos even emerged showing gang members eating dead rivals from other gangs. In a particular social media video, a gang member can be seen eating a human finger and dismembering another human being.
Even if cannibalism is prevalent among Haitian gangs, it should be noted that this video does not show members of the current rebellion. Rather, the video is reported to be at least two years old.
Also read
Still, the ferocity and aggressiveness of the Chérizier rebellion is shocking the country and neighbours, leading to fears over how a potential Chérizier government might be run.
Haiti, has a rich but tumultuous history marked by struggle and resilience. Initially inhabited by the Taíno people, it became the first post-colonial independent black-led nation in the world following a successful slave revolt against French colonial rule in 1804.
This monumental victory, however, came at a steep cost. France imposed crippling reparations on Haiti, severely hindering its economic development. Over the centuries, Haiti's progress has been further stymied by political instability, natural disasters, and foreign interventions.