Haiti Prime Minister Resigns Amid Tension

Prime Minister Ariel Henry of Haiti has announced his resignation following a period of intensifying violence and unrest in the Caribbean nation.

The resignation follows an emergency summit of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders held in Jamaica to address the crisis in Haiti.

The President of Guyana and current CARICOM chair, Mohamed Ali, confirmed that Henry tendered his resignation after the summit’s discussions.

In a video message delivered late Monday, the 74-year-old Henry stated that his government would transition power to a newly established transitional council.

Henry’s announcement came from Puerto Rico, where he found himself stranded after being denied permission to land in Haiti.

The prime minister was abroad in Kenya, lobbying for a United Nations (UN)-backed, Kenyan-led security force to help restore order in Haiti.

However, his absence coincided with an escalation in violence back home.

Last week saw a surge in violent activities, with a rebel group invading two of Haiti’s main prisons in Port-au-Prince, resulting in the escape of over 4,000 inmates.

Additionally, assailants targeted the National Palace, ignited the interior ministry with petrol bombs, and launched sustained assaults on the international airport.

Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier, a notorious gang leader, declared that the violence would persist until the prime minister stepped down.

Haiti has been in a political vacuum, with no elections held since 2016.

Henry had been serving as the country’s interim leader since July 2021, after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse