Chaos-ridden Haiti’s prime minister has agreed to resign

Caribbean countries secured Ariel Henry’s resignation at an emergency meeting in Jamaica. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered another 100 million. dollars (91.5 million euros) to pave the way for security forces to be led by Kenya.

Gangs have taken over much of the impoverished country, and the crisis has worsened in recent weeks, with corpses littering the streets, armed thugs looting critical infrastructure and fears of famine.

“The government I lead cannot remain insensitive to this situation. As I have always said, no sacrifice is too great for our homeland, Haiti,” Henry said in his resignation speech, which he posted online.

Gang leaders have been demanding the ouster of Henry, who has been in power since 2021, when the Haitian president was assassinated, although he has described himself as a transitional figure. Haiti has not had elections since 2016.

Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, who currently chairs the Caribbean bloc CARICOM, announced after weekend meetings that Mr. Henry would step down once a transitional administration is formed.

Ali applauded Henry’s move, saying the prime minister, stuck in Puerto Rico because Haiti’s main airport is out of business, “has reassured us with his actions, his words and his selfless intentions.”

“And that selfless intention was to see Haiti succeed,” the Guyanese leader said.

Blinken, who took part in the seven-hour talks at a Kingston hotel, also confirmed Henry’s resignation.

A US official traveling with Mr Blinken said Mr Henry had agreed to leave as early as Friday, but was waiting for the Kingston conference to work out the details of the transition.

Ways to prevent a possible crackdown on Mr. Henry and his allies were also discussed, and the United States agreed that he could stay on U.S. soil if he felt unsafe in Haiti, the official said.

Presidential Council

High-ranking officials from Brazil, Canada, France and Mexico joined the talks. CARICOM, together with its partners and the United Nations, said in a statement that Haiti’s new Interim Presidential Council will consist of seven voting members who will make decisions by majority vote.

The seven will include representatives from the main parties, the private sector and the Montana Group, a civil society coalition that has proposed forming an interim government following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021.

There will also be two non-voting seats on the council, one for civil society and one for the church.

A nighttime curfew was extended to Thursday in Haiti, then in chaos, although it is unlikely that overworked police will be able to enforce it.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, the host of the crisis talks, has warned that Haiti is at risk of civil war.

“It is clear that Haiti is at a critical point,” he said, calling for “strong and decisive action” to “stem the tide of lawlessness and despair before it is too late.”

US aid

A. Blinken promised another 100 million. dollars to support international stabilization forces, so since the intensification of the crisis a few years ago, the US has promised to allocate a total of 300 million dollars. dollars (274.7 million euros).

The US Secretary of State also offered another 33 million. dollars (30.2 million euros) for emergency humanitarian aid.

The escalating violence “creates an unenviable situation for the Haitian people, and we all know that urgent action is needed, both politically and security-wise,” Blinken said.

“We all know that only the people of Haiti can and must decide their future, not anyone else,” he said.

But he said the United States and its partners “can help restore basic security” and address the “immense suffering” in Haiti.

President Joe Biden has ruled out sending troops to Haiti, which the United States has occupied for nearly two decades.

Canada was initially eyed, but it also decided that the mission in Haiti was too dangerous and its success uncertain.

However, Canada offered 91 million. dollars (€83 million) to Haiti, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who attended the Kingston meeting remotely, promised further support.

At the time, Kenya’s intentions were halted by a domestic court ruling that rejected the possibility of deploying troops.

The plan regained momentum after Henry visited Nairobi and agreed on a “reciprocal exchange” of forces. But as violence at home escalated, the prime minister was unable to return to Haiti and landed in Puerto Rico after the Dominican Republic refused to accept him.