Haiti Culture Ministry Fires Officials Over Citadelle Stampede; 9 Total Held Including 5 Police Officers

Haiti's Culture Ministry dismissed two government officials on April 15, 2026, holding them accountable for administrative negligence in the April 11 Citadelle Laferrière stampede that killed 25. Nine people in total were arrested in connection with the tragedy: five police officers accused of using tear gas to disperse a fight inside the overcrowded event, worsening the fatal crush, and at least four others including ISPAN (Institut de Sauvegarde du Patrimoine National) officials responsible for site management. The 'Citadel Vibe 3.0' event had been promoted aggressively on social media by influencers and drew crowds far exceeding the UNESCO site's capacity, on a steep mountainside already made more dangerous by rain. Al Jazeera noted the firings were described as partly a response to public pressure from Haitian civil society demanding accountability in a country where institutional failures have become routine. The Citadelle, completed in 1820, is Haiti's most iconic national monument — its closure 'until further notice' was described by cultural advocates as an additional blow to Haitian national heritage.