Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns amid pressure and chaos

Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry has resigned amid pressure and chaos in the Caribbean nation. He became Prime Minister in 2021 after the assassination of Jovenel Moise, the country’s last president.

The President of the Caribbean Community said on Monday that Henry had issued his resignation as head of government of the Caribbean nation.

“We accept his resignation upon the establishment of a Transitional Presidential Council and the naming of an interim Prime Minister,” said Caribbean Community President Irfan Ali, who is also Guyana’s president, thanking Henry for his service to Haiti. .

Henry traveled to Kenya late last month to assume leadership of a U.N.-backed international security mission to help police fight armed gangs, but violence in the capital Port-au-Prince has been heavy during his absence. Due to the surge he got stuck in American territory. Of Puerto Rico.

Henry’s resignation comes as regional leaders met on Monday to discuss the contours of the political transition in nearby Jamaica, which the US urged last week to be “rapidly” while the gang called for Henry to step down. Was asked to leave.

Regional authorities are engaged in talks involving members of Haiti’s political parties, the private sector, civil society and religious groups, with the aim of establishing a transition council that will pave the way for the first elections since 2016.

Henry, whom many Haitians consider corrupt, had repeatedly postponed elections, saying security must be restored first.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier on Monday called for the creation of a “broad-based, inclusive, independent Presidential College”.

The council will be tasked with addressing the “urgent needs” of the Haitian people, enabling the deployment of security missions and creating the security conditions necessary for free elections, Blinken said.