UN Secretary-General Applauds Establishment of Transitional Council in Haiti
NEW YORK — In a crucial development for the crisis-torn Caribbean country of Haiti, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed his support for the newly established transitional council. This council has been given the responsibility of selecting new political leadership and organizing elections in Haiti.
The announcement of the decree formalizing the Transitional Presidential Council on Friday, April 12 was met with approval from the UN chief, as stated in a release by his spokesperson. The Council’s main tasks include the selection of Haiti’s next prime minister and Cabinet.
Guterres emphasized the importance of swift progress in putting transitional governance structures in place, specifically highlighting the urgent appointment of an interim Prime Minister and government, as well as the nomination of members for the Provisional Electoral Council.
Furthermore, the Secretary-General acknowledged the responsibilities of the Transitional Presidential Council, which include collaborating with the international community to expedite the deployment of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, authorized by the UN Security Council last year.
He reiterated his call for all Member States to contribute to the MSS efforts.
Against the backdrop of a political void, Haiti has been facing severe challenges from powerful and heavily armed gangs, leading to coordinated attacks on various targets since February. These attacks have included police stations, prisons, airports, and seaports, ultimately resulting in the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry in March.
Despite the ongoing turmoil with gangs in control of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, and surrounding areas, UN humanitarian efforts continue to provide essential aid to those affected. Most recently, the World Food Program (WFP) distributed 19,000 meals to displaced civilians in Port-au-Prince, along with school lunches for 200,000 children in other provinces. — UN News
