Haiti engulfed in crisis as mobs pressure prime minister to resign

Haiti’s security crisis is reaching a breaking point. An alliance of armed gangs pressures the country’s prime minister to resign, thrusting the United States into the middle of a power struggle that has gripped the country. To ease the impasse, the Biden administration is increasing pressure on Prime Minister Ariel Henry to facilitate a transfer of power.

The United States did not actively call or urge him to resign, said Matthew Miller, a State Department spokesman. But, he added, “we urge him to accelerate the transition to a strong and inclusive governance structure.”

The impasse marks a major turning point in Haiti, which has been plagued by near-constant crises in recent years as tempers flare in the country of 11.5 million people over growing unrest, food shortages and a lack of progress toward democratic reforms. elections and the restoration of a sense of security.

The standoff emerged after Mr Henry, who has been backed by the United States since becoming Haiti’s de facto leader after the president’s assassination in 2021, Jovenel Moisecould not return to Haiti on Tuesday due to doubts about a safe landing at the airport of the capital Port-au-Prince, which has been the target of gang attacks in recent days.

Mr. Henry did not make any public statement about his whereabouts or plans to return to Haiti after landing in Puerto Rico on Tuesday. In the meantime, as scenes of looting and disorder leave many people in Port-au-Prince on edge, gang leaders have rushed to fill a power vacuum.

“If Ariel Henry doesn’t resign and the international community continues to support him, we’re headed straight for civil war,” said Jimmy Chérizier, a top gang leader and former police officer better known as Barbecue. told reporters in Port-au-Prince Tuesday.

Mr. Chérizier and other gang leaders have been on the rampage around Port-au-Prince over the past week, clashing with police and attacking the airport, bank offices, government buildings and prisons, including the country’s largest prison, leaving thousands of prisoners allowed. escape.

The deteriorating security situation limits the choices available to the United States, which has traditionally had enormous influence over Haitian politics. The Biden administration has made clear that there are no plans to send American soldiers to Haiti to maintain order.

“What we have asked the Haitian prime minister to do is move forward in a political process that will lead to the creation of a presidential transition council that will lead to elections,” said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. told reporters on Wednesday. “And we think this is urgent – ​​that it is urgent that he continues in that direction and starts the process of returning normalcy to the people of Haiti.”

A US government official said Caricom, a union of 15 Caribbean countries, had been at the forefront of calls demanding the immediate resignation of the Haitian prime minister, while the United States felt it should support Mr Henry because he offered the best opportunity . to ensure an orderly transition and election process.

The official, who provided background information to discuss sensitive issues, added that the United States has no other Haitian partner that could serve as an alternative to Mr. Henry. The official said the prime minister’s immediate resignation would only cause more chaos in a country already on the brink of collapse.

“Now they are stuck with something even more unpalatable, with no way out, no alternative to the crisis,” said Robert Fatton, an expert on Haiti at the University of Virginia, referring to the Biden administration’s options regarding to Haiti. “The gangs now have overwhelming superiority.”

The violence unleashed by gangs is exacerbating Haiti’s already acute humanitarian crisis. About 15,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in recent days due to escalating violence, including many who had already been displaced, said Martin Griffiths, the United Nations emergency response coordinator.

Another pressing concern is widespread hunger; approximately 1.4 million people in the country are currently facing emergency levels of hunger. according to to the World Food Programme.

Overall, “nearly half of the population needs humanitarian assistance,” said Mr Griffiths, also UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. “The crisis in Haiti is worsening at alarming speed.”

The growing sense of chaos in Haiti is also casting doubt on a plan for Kenya to lead a security mission to Haiti, which the Biden administration has pushed for over the past year. Mr Henry flew to Nairobi last week and signed the deal with Kenyan authorities on Friday.

Under the plan, Kenya would provide at least 1,000 police officers for the mission, which the United States had pledged to support with $200 million and Canada with nearly $60 million. Other countries, including Benin, Chad, Bangladesh and Barbados, have also pledged to send personnel as part of the mission.

“That agreement was signed by someone with no legitimacy whatsoever,” said Monique Clesca, a Haitian democracy activist and former United Nations official, stressing that the Haitian parliament, which is currently not functioning, and possibly its future leader as well, have rejected the agreement should approve. the mission to move forward.

Michael Crowley, Natalie Kitroeff, David C Adams, André Paultre And Frances Robles reporting contributed.