Resignation of the Prime Minister of Haiti in the midst of a wave of violence

Photo: Simon Maina Agence France-Presse In early March, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry (center left) signed an agreement in Nairobi to allow Kenyan police officers to be sent to Haiti and had since sought to return to his country.

France Media Agency in Kingston, Jamaica

02:29

• Americas

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, challenged and faced with a wave of gang violence in his country, resigned Monday, announced the president of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and an American official.

“We note the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry,” Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana and CARICOM, said at a press conference following a meeting in Jamaica devoted to the crisis in Haiti.

He said he was “pleased” to announce “a transitional governance agreement paving the way for a peaceful transition of power, continuity of governance, a short-term security action plan and free and fair elections.”

Caribbean countries met urgently on Monday in Jamaica, at the initiative of CARICOM, with representatives of the UN and several countries, including France, the United States and Canada, to try to move forward on a solution in Haiti.

Port-au-Prince continued this weekend to sink into violence linked to gangs who demanded the resignation of Ariel Henry, just like part of the population.

Stranded in the US territory of Puerto Rico after being prevented from returning to the Haitian capital, Mr. Henry spoke remotely with CARICOM members during the meeting.

Mr. Henry confirmed his resignation in a telephone exchange Monday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was in Jamaica, according to a U.S. official.

He is welcome to stay in Puerto Rico, the official added.

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Without a president or parliament – ​​the last head of state, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated in 2021 – Haiti has not had an election since 2016. Mr. Henry, appointed by Jovenel Moïse, should have left office in early February.

At the beginning of March, he signed an agreement in Nairobi to allow the sending of Kenyan police officers to Haiti and had since sought to return to his country.

The President of Guyana warned a few days ago that CARICOM intended to help restore “stability and normality” in Haiti, describing the situation there as “desperate”.

State of emergency and curfew

The Haitian capital is the scene of clashes between police and armed gangs, who attack strategic sites such as the presidential palace, police stations and prisons.

The latest sign of the security crisis, the evacuation on Monday of all European Union personnel present in Haiti.

During the night from Saturday to Sunday, the Americans evacuated their non-essential diplomatic personnel by helicopter.

The Haitian authorities declared a state of emergency a week ago, accompanied by a nighttime curfew, in the West department, which includes the capital, but they do not control not entirely this territory.

This curfew was extended Monday until Thursday, according to a press release from the authorities.

According to several diplomats, the Kingston meeting was intended to formalize a proposal to Ariel Henry, so that he cedes power to a transitional council including a large panel of Haitian civil society.

On Monday, the UN Security Council called on all Haitian political actors to “serious negotiations” to “restore the country’s democratic institutions.”

Chief US diplomat Antony Blinken announced after the meeting in Jamaica that the United States would provide an additional $133 million to resolve the crisis, including $100 million for the multinational force to be sent in Haiti, and 33 million in humanitarian aid.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, present virtually during the discussions, had recently offered some $91 million.