Haiti Fires Officials After 25 Die In Citadel Stampede, Exposing Massive Government Failure
A local DJ held an event inside Citadelle Laferriere, a historic 19th-century fortress. On Saturday, visitors pressed to enter while others rushed to exit — triggering a deadly crush that killed at least 25 people.
Stormy weather worsened the chaos — heavy rain pummelled northern Haiti as panicked crowds ran for cover. The same storm killed 12 more people elsewhere, flooding at least 900 homes and one hospital across the region.
Haiti declared 3 days of national mourning. Authorities arrested 9 suspects — including 5 police officers and 2 employees from the Institute for the Preservation of National Heritage, all connected to the deadly stampede.
By Tuesday, Haiti’s Ministry of Culture fired 2 officials — one for “serious negligence,” another for “biased passivity.” The ministry admitted the tragedy resulted from administrative negligence, pledging the government would fully assume responsibility.
The stampede struck an already-broken nation. Since 2022, gang violence has killed roughly 16,000 people and displaced over 1.5 million. President Moise’s 2021 assassination created a power vacuum that criminal networks continue to exploit.
Violence didn’t stop. In Marigot, an overnight gang attack killed 7 people and burned a police station. Mayor Rene Danneau identified victims as police informants and desperately urged Haiti’s prime minister to intervene immediately.
