Narayan AmmachchiHaiti’s Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, tendered his resignation after an extended stay abroad, leaving the Caribbean nation grappling with a succession crisis.
A transitional council has been set in place to lead the nation. The council is composed of nine senior politicians, with Michel Patrick Boisvert, Haiti’s Finance Minister, as the interim Prime Minister.
Haiti has been besieged by turmoil since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. Today, nearly 80% of the country’s territory is controlled by criminal gangs.
Ariel Henry visited Kenya to negotiate the potential deployment of Kenyan security forces to Haiti. Mr. Henry has yet to return to the Americas. His resignation was announced earlier this week by his office.
Ariel Henry was not elected, but appointed Prime Minister by former president Moise days before his assassination.
Amidst the absence of formal security forces, Haiti has struggled to restore law and order on its streets, leading to widespread displacement and a surge in violence.
According to a recent United Nations report, over 360,000 Haitians have been internally displaced, with nearly 2,500 individuals killed or severely injured in ongoing street battles.
The report highlighted a stark increase in Haitian fatalities in early 2024 compared to the same period last year.
Adding to the chaos, criminal gangs have raided two major prisons, releasing over 4,000 detainees.
Kenya, previously in discussions to deploy a security force to Haiti, has put its plans on hold pending the transition of power to the transitional council. However, there’s speculation that the African country may soon dispatch security forces to aid in stabilizing Haiti.
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