Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry Resigns Amid Deadly Gang Violence
In a country plagued by deadly gang violence, Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned on Thursday as a new council was sworn in to lead the nation. A recent surge in violence prompted officials to relocate the ceremony from the National Palace to the outgoing prime minister’s office.
Henry’s resignation came after armed groups prevented his return to the country, leaving most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, under gang control. Exploiting the power vacuum created by the prime minister’s departure, the gangs have extended their influence over various parts of the country, leading to an atmosphere of lawlessness.
The outgoing prime minister had planned to import a multinational security force from Kenya to restore law and order, but his efforts were thwarted. The newly formed transitional council, comprising nine members, is now tasked with developing a strategy to reinstate order and transition Haiti back to democratic governance, with the support of other Caribbean nations and the US.
Security concerns were heightened ahead of the council’s inauguration ceremony, which was relocated to the prime minister’s office due to gunfire near the National Palace. Gangs, particularly the alliance led by Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue, have threatened to disrupt the council’s efforts to restore stability.
Chérizier, a powerful gang leader controlling a significant portion of Port-au-Prince, expressed willingness to engage in talks to establish a new government, emphasizing the need for the inclusion of armed groups to address the ongoing crisis. The United Nations has described the situation in Haiti as “cataclysmic,” with reports of widespread violence, human rights abuses, and food insecurity affecting millions of Haitians.
