Haiti Declares Three Days of National Mourning; 9 Arrested Including 5 Police Officers in Citadelle Stampede Investigation

Haiti declared three days of national mourning (April 14–16) on April 13, 2026, following the deadly stampede at Citadelle Laferrière that killed at least 25 people during the 'Citadel Vibe 3.0' youth event on April 11. Haitian authorities arrested nine people in connection with the tragedy, including five police officers and two officials of the Institut de Sauvegarde du Patrimoine National (ISPAN), the agency responsible for managing the UNESCO World Heritage site. The death toll was confirmed at 25 — revised downward from initial reports of 30+ as search and rescue operations concluded on the steep mountainside. The government announced it would cover funeral expenses for victims' families. Investigations focused on the event's organizers and public officials who approved the gathering without adequate crowd management measures, as the 'Citadel Vibe 3.0' event had been heavily promoted on social media and drew crowds far exceeding the site's capacity.