Haiti's future as gangs reign terror and PM quits country spiralling into chaos
Haiti has plunged into uncertainty after the violent unrest led the country's prime minister to step down earlier today.
Following a wave of violent unrest, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry declared his resignation early Tuesday, pending the establishment of a transitional presidential council, succumbing to international pressure to address the country's dire situation. In a recorded statement, Henry said: "The government that I'm running cannot remain insensitive in front of this situation. There is no sacrifice that is too big for our country."
The announcement came shortly after a high-level meeting in Jamaica involving Caribbean leaders and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who urgently sought a solution to Haiti's escalating crisis. Hindered by ongoing violence that has shuttered Haiti's main international airports, Henry had been unable to return to the country, finding refuge in Puerto Rico.
READ MORE: Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns as violence continues to grip Caribbean nation
Charred vehicles remain parked as gang violence escalates in Port-au-Prince (AFP via Getty Images)Henry was sworn in as prime minister nearly two weeks after the July 7, 2021, assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Critics say he was never elected by the people, much less Parliament, since it remains nonexistent after the terms of the last remaining senators expired in January 2023.
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He served the longest single term as prime minister since Haiti’s 1987 constitution was approved, a surprising feat for a politically unstable country with a constant turnover of premiers. With Henry's departure imminent, questions loom over who will navigate Haiti through its tumultuous period, marked by widespread gang violence reminiscent of a low-scale civil war.
People take refuge in local welfare, as Haitians forced to flee their homes amid spiraling gang violence (Anadolu via Getty Images)A transitional government
Caricom, a regional trade bloc, convened the urgent meeting in Jamaica to discuss a solution to halt the country's spiralling crisis and agree to a joint proposal to establish a transitional council. Officials there stressed the pressing need for a transitional government, with a proposed council comprising seven voting members and two non-voting ones.
The composition includes representatives from various political factions and the private sector, reflecting efforts to forge a broad-based consensus amid Haiti's political turmoil.
Police intervene with tear gas canisters during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Ariel Henry (Anadolu via Getty Images)Those with votes include the Pitit Desalin party, run by former senator and presidential candidate Moïse Jean-Charles, who is now an ally of Guy Philippe, a former rebel leader who led a successful 2004 coup and was recently released from a US prison after pleading guilty to money laundering.
Also with a vote is the EDE party of former prime minister Charles Joseph; the Fanmi Lavalas party; the December 21 coalition led by Henry; the Montana Accord group; and members of the private sector.
Residents leave their homes as gang violence escalates in Port-au-Prince (AFP via Getty Images)International support
Meanwhile, the international community has pledged substantial financial and logistical support to stabilize Haiti. Blinken announced an additional $100 million for a multinational force deployment.
The US is also set to provide $33 million in humanitarian aid. A proposal for a "presidential college" aims to expedite the political transition and address the urgent needs of the Haitian populace.
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Leader of the "G9 and Family" gang, Jimmy Cherizier, better known as Barbecue (Matias Delacroix/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Rule of gangs
While diplomatic efforts unfold as Haiti braces for a leadership transition, concerns mount over the influence of powerful gangs controlling significant portions of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The recent raids on police stations, the main airport, and major prisons by heavily armed gangs have resulted in the release of over 4,000 inmates, leaving scores dead and more than 15,000 displaced.
Haiti's Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier presents himself as a revolutionary (AFP via Getty Images)Jimmy Chérizier, a prominent gang leader known as "Barbecue," who leads the gang federation G9 Family and Allies, cautioned against further external intervention, urging Haitians to chart their own path forward. He declared: "We Haitians have to decide who is going to be the head of the country and what model of government we want. We are also going to figure out how to get Haiti out of the misery it’s in now."
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Experts warn that any viable government must engage with these groups, which wield considerable authority in urban areas. Robert Fatton, a Haitian politics expert at the University of Virginia said: "Even if you have a different kind of government, the reality is that you need to talk to the gangs. You can't suppress them."
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