“To that finish, we acknowledge the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry upon the institution of a transitional presidential council and the naming of an interim prime minister,” Ali stated.
The announcement of Henry’s resignation comes as Haiti faces one among its worst crises in a long time. Armed gangs have tightened their grip on the nation’s capital, attacked the airport and predominant port, and threatened a civil conflict except the prime minister steps down. Final week, Henry was unable to return house from a diplomatic journey to Kenya. With the Port-au-Prince airport underneath assault, he flew as an alternative to Puerto Rico.
Because the violence escalated over the previous week, Henry confronted intense strain from the worldwide neighborhood — and from Haitians — to step apart to make manner for a brand new transitional authorities.
For the previous 12 months, U.S. officers have pressed the 74-year-old neurosurgeon to work with a transitional council to assist deliver elections, a senior State Division official instructed The Washington Submit final week, however Henry had proven an “unwillingness to cede actual energy.”
Final week, because the violence in Haiti grew to become “untenable,” the US and the Caribbean Neighborhood proposed an expedited transition of energy during which a transitional council would appoint an interim prime minister and Henry would step down, in keeping with the official, who spoke on the situation of anonymity underneath State Division guidelines. Henry wouldn’t be concerned within the group of that council, in keeping with the U.S. proposal, the official stated.
The Haitian presidency has been vacant for the reason that still-unsolved 2021 assassination of Jovenel Moïse, and the Nationwide Meeting has been empty for the reason that final lawmakers’ phrases expired final 12 months. That left Henry, an unelected and unpopular prime minister, to guide the nation.
