By: Staff Writer
March 12, 2024
Haitian Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, has resigned as that country’s non-elected leader since 2021 after the assassination of then Haitian President, Jovenel Moïse.
Henry leaves a Haiti in worse condition than he met it with armed gangs having taken control of the country’s capital since last week after a brazen prison break let out hundreds of hardened criminals onto the streets in the county.
Henry, who himself has been holed up in Puerto Rico when the unrest began, was said to have sent in his resignation this past Friday and will only stay on until formation of a transitional council that will spearhead general elections in the country next year. He was stranded in Puerto Rico on his way back from Kenya where that country had pledged peace keeping troops to help quell the unrest in Haiti, however, armed gangs told him that he must resign as Prime Minister upon upping their riots.
Regional leaders of the Caribbean Community have held the emergency summit to discuss a framework for a political transition, which the US had urged to be “expedited” as armed gangs wreaked chaos amid repeatedly postponed elections.
The capital Port-au-Prince and the surrounding region is under a month-long state of emergency, while a curfew has been extended.
It is also reported that the gangs were now pushing to be part of any new power-sharing deal, but such a political settlement was impossible without the “support” of an international armed force.
The proposed US contribution to the security force now stands at $300m following Mr Blinken’s announcement, with a further $33m allocated for humanitarian aid.
Speaking following the meeting, chairman of the Caricom group and Guyana President Irfaan Ali said: “We acknowledge his resignation upon the establishment of a transitional presidential council and naming of an interim prime minister.”
President Ali said the transitional presidential council would have two observers and seven voting members, including representatives from several coalitions, the private sector and civil society, and one religious leader.
The council has been mandated to “swiftly” appoint an interim prime minister, he said, adding that anyone intending to run in Haiti’s next elections will not be able to participate.
It is hoped the council will pave the way for the first elections in Haiti since 2016.