On March 11 (local time), the rotating president of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), President Irfaan Ali of Guyana, confirmed that Ariel Henry had resigned as Prime Minister of Haiti.
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| Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has decided to resign. (Source: Reuters) |
Henry has served as Prime Minister of Haiti since President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in 2021.
Reuters reported that Henry's resignation came after regional leaders met earlier that day in Jamaica to discuss a framework for political transition in Haiti.
A source from the United Nations revealed that the only message Caricom wanted to convey to Prime Minister Henry was a request for his resignation. This was likely a move supported by the countries with the most influence over Haiti, such as the United States and Canada.
The situation in this African country deteriorated rapidly from the beginning of March, when criminal gangs attacked the National Prison in the capital Port-au-Prince, causing thousands of prisoners to escape and threatening national security. The country was forced to declare a state of emergency and extend it for another month from March 7th.
Armed gangs continue to control much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and maintain a violent war against the government of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, demanding his resignation while he remains stranded abroad.
The UN remains on high alert and is urging the Haitian government and all relevant parties to immediately implement measures to advance the political process toward elections.
Amidst violence, political crisis, and years of drought, approximately 5.5 million Haitians (equivalent to 50% of the country's population) are in need of humanitarian assistance from outside. In less than a week, at least 15,000 Haitians have been forced to flee their homes to escape the wave of violence.
Against this backdrop, AFP reported that on March 11, at a conference in Jamaica, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged an additional $133 million in aid to Haiti, while emphasizing that the escalating crisis highlights the urgency of deploying a multinational force.
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