This latest attack on the Haitian press is a stark reminder of the growing insecurity faced by journalists and media outlets in a country where armed gangs are tightening their grip and targeting independent news outlets.
This statement was originally published on rsf.org on 14 March 2025.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) strongly condemns the arson attack on the historic premises of Radio Télévision Caraïbes (RTVC) in Port-au-Prince during the night of 12 March 2025. This latest attack on the Haitian press is a stark reminder of the growing insecurity faced by journalists and media outlets in a country where armed gangs are tightening their grip and targeting independent news outlets.
According to RSF’s information, the fire was deliberately set by armed individuals at the Chavannes Street building, which had been the emblematic headquarters of RTVC for 76 years. While the station had relocated its operations to Pétion-Ville over a year ago for security reasons, the attack on the renowned historic address comes as a devastating, symbolic blow against one of the most influential media outlets in the country.
“This arson attack on RTVC is yet another attempt to silence the Haitian press through terror and destruction. For years, journalists and media outlets in Haiti have been targeted with violence, threats, and forced exile due to the actions of armed gangs. The authorities must act immediately to ensure journalists’ safety, investigate this attack, and hold those responsible to account. The persistent climate of impunity is increasing the risk of a media blackout in parts of the country that have become increasingly inaccessible, depriving the population of their right to information.”
Artur Romeu, Director, RSF Latin America Bureau
The attack on RTVC is part of a worrying trend of violence against the Haitian press. In April 2024, the premises of Le Nouvelliste, the country’s oldest newspaper, were vandalised and looted by armed individuals.
Last April, RSF and over 90 Haitian media professionals issued an international appeal to protect journalism in Haiti, as the profession is caught between a wave of extreme violence and a deepening social, economic and political crisis that has worsened since December 2023. Six media professionals have been killed since 2022 in Haiti due to their reporting.
