Following the resignation of Haiti’s unelected Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who proved powerless against the gangs that control much of the country, Haitian politicians proceeded to form a Presidential Council that will attempt to normalize the situation in the country.
At the same time, Haitian police launched a larger-scale operation at the end of the week in the country’s million-population capital, Port-au-Prince, to regain control of the Bas Delmas neighborhood, completely overrun by gangs. It was the first such large-scale police operation successfully completed.
A second police operation in the capital, also successful, was an attempt to recapture the capital’s main airport terminal from the hands of gangsters.
Armed gangs have taken control of the terminal early March and have proceeded to systematically empty warehouses.
Despite the resignation of the incumbent prime minister from office and the revival of the capital’s police force, chaos still reigns in Port-au-Prince, and nearly three thousand prisoners broken out of prisons by armed criminals have swelled their ranks.
Thus reinforced, the gangs continue their attacks on police stations and, in recent days, on government buildings in the capital. Attempts have been made to set fire to the Interior Ministry building, among others.
It is also expected to be tasked with appointing a new prime minister and calling presidential elections.
Henry, who took office in 2021 after the assassination of Haiti’s president Jovenel Moïse, refused to conduct elections on the grounds that voter integrity would be jeopardized by the nation’s instability. However, as Haiti descended into even greater poverty and gang violence, demonstrators had been calling for his resignation for months.
Following weeks of growing unrest in the Caribbean country, Henry announced his resignation on March 12.
A second police operation in the capital, also successful, was an attempt to recapture the capital’s main airport terminal from the hands of gangsters.
Armed gangs have taken control of the terminal early March and have proceeded to systematically empty warehouses.
Despite the resignation of the incumbent prime minister from office and the revival of the capital’s police force, chaos still reigns in Port-au-Prince, and nearly three thousand prisoners broken out of prisons by armed criminals have swelled their ranks.
Thus reinforced, the gangs continue their attacks on police stations and, in recent days, on government buildings in the capital. Attempts have been made to set fire to the Interior Ministry building, among others.
According to recent agency reports, coordinating effective action against the armed gangs still in partial control of Haiti’s capital and significant areas of the country will be entrusted to a council now being formed to deal with the country’s indispensable reforms.Stringer Dispatch: As unrest continues in Haiti, residents tell of difficult situation pic.twitter.com/phIRo6kw0l
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) March 17, 2024
It is also expected to be tasked with appointing a new prime minister and calling presidential elections.
Henry, who took office in 2021 after the assassination of Haiti’s president Jovenel Moïse, refused to conduct elections on the grounds that voter integrity would be jeopardized by the nation’s instability. However, as Haiti descended into even greater poverty and gang violence, demonstrators had been calling for his resignation for months.
Following weeks of growing unrest in the Caribbean country, Henry announced his resignation on March 12.
Source: PAP, Reuters
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