Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry has announced his decision to resign amidst the country’s escalating chaos. Henry, who has been leading Haiti since the assassination of its last president in 2021, stated that he will step down once a transition council and temporary replacement have been appointed.
During Henry’s administration, armed gangs significantly increased their wealth, power, and control over territory. In an effort to “address” the growing conflict, Henry traveled to Kenya in late February to seek support for a United Nations-backed security mission. However, the situation worsened in his absence, leading to a call for a swift transition by regional leaders.
In a late-night video address, Henry expressed his gratitude to the Haitian people for the opportunity to serve as prime minister and urged calm and cooperation for the restoration of peace and stability. He said, “The government that I am leading will resign immediately after the installation of (a transition) council,” Henry said in the video address. “I want to thank the Haitian people for the opportunity I had been granted. I’m asking all Haitians to remain calm and do everything they can for peace and stability to come back as fast as possible,” he added. Social media videos shared online showed scenes of celebration in the streets following his announcement.
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According to CNBC, a senior U.S. official confirmed that Henry is free to remain in Puerto Rico or travel elsewhere, but emphasized the need for improved security in Haiti for his safe return. The decision for Henry’s resignation was made on Friday, paving the way for a presidential council to take over with representatives from various sectors of Haitian society.
Haiti has been without elected representatives since early 2023, with upcoming elections set to be the first since 2016. Henry, who has faced allegations of corruption, had postponed elections citing the need to restore security in the country.
The resignation of Prime Minister Henry coincides with discussions among regional leaders regarding participation in an international force to combat the armed gangs causing havoc in Haiti. The gangs’ violent turf wars have exacerbated a humanitarian crisis, leading to food shortages and displacing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.
How Has The US Been Handling This?
U.S. Southern Command said in a statement to USA TODAY that U.S. military personnel has since airlifted some Americans out of the country’s embassy in Haiti as the island nation spirals into more violence.
“At the request of the Department of State, the U.S. military conducted an operation to augment the security of the U.S. Embassy at Port-au-Prince, allow our Embassy mission operations to continue, and enable non-essential personnel to depart.”
We will continue to keep you updated as this story develops.
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BREAKING: Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry has agreed to resign, as the country is on the brink of collapse due to gang violence in the capital.@cbenavidesTV and @vladduthiersCBS break down the latest on the Caribbean nation. https://t.co/DPHWAijrZR pic.twitter.com/qkxHKGqRSO
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) March 12, 2024
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