Canada Repatriating Diplomats from Unstable Haiti, in Line with Other Countries
Canada is taking steps to reduce the number of diplomats at its embassy in Haiti due to a deteriorating security situation in the Caribbean nation.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announced that only essential staff will remain at the Port-au-Prince embassy.
Several other countries have also evacuated non-essential personnel from Haiti in recent days.
Although Canada’s ambassador in Haiti stated on Mar. 12 that no staff had been evacuated, some non-essential employees were working remotely as gangs had seized control of the main airport.
Global Affairs Canada cited the unstable security situation, unreliable supplies, and the need for an effective presence in a volatile environment as reasons for the decision.
Ms. Joly mentioned that scaling back the staff will allow the remaining employees to continue their work despite limited supplies.
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“We are committed to supporting Haiti and the Haitian people, today and in the long term,” Ms. Joly said in a statement on the platform X.
“Our immediate priority remains the safety and security of Canadians, and this intervention will help ensure it.”
Global Affairs Canada plans to temporarily relocate personnel to an undisclosed location where they will work remotely.
This announcement comes shortly after unelected Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry agreed to step down once a transitional council is established to oversee an international military intervention led by Kenya.
Haiti has faced a severe security crisis since mid-2021, with gangs seizing important infrastructure and engaging in violent conflicts that have severely impacted medical and food services in the country.
Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, the commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command, revealed in an interview last December that the government had prepared an evacuation plan for Haiti in the past, though it was never implemented.
Canadian citizens were evacuated from Israel after attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7 and from Sudan last spring following outbreaks of violence in the country.
