- The 74-year-old head of state tendered his resignation Monday, a week after the growing coalition of gangs warned of civil war if he did not step down
- His resignation was swiftly confirmed by Guyana’s president Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the current chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
- As gangs across the Caribbean country continue to unite, thousands have had fled their homes, and politicians across the region are scrambling for a solution
Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry has resigned, following an emergency summit called to address gang-led violence currently occurring in the country.
The 74-year-old head of state tendered his resignation Monday, a week after the growing coalition of gangs warned of civil war if he did not step down.
His resignation was swiftly confirmed by Guyana’s president Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the current chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The coalition called the emergency meeting as gangs across the Caribbean country continue to unite, shooting up government buildings and foreign embassies.
As a result, thousands have had fled their homes, and locals continue to report the overwhelming stench of the dead. Meanwhile, politicians across the region are scrambling for a solution – one that may now be in sight following Henry’s removal.
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The 74-year-old head of state tendered his resignation Monday, a week after the growing coalition of gangs warned of civil war if he did not step down
His resignation was swiftly confirmed by Guyana’s president Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the current chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). He is seen her flanked by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness
The coalition called the emergency meeting as gangs across the Caribbean country continue to unite, shooting up government buildings and foreign embassies. The leader of the alliance of gangs, former police officer Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier, is seen in Port-au-Prince Monday
‘We acknowledge his resignation upon the establishment of a transitional presidential council and naming of an interim prime minister,’ Ali said, thanking Henry – who came to power unelected after the assassination of Haiti’s previous president – for his service.
The decision, said to have been made Friday, came shortly before the US deployed Marines to evacuate its embassy as gangs led by former police officer Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier continue to attack state institutions.
Henry, at the moment, remains unable to return home, stranded in Puerto Rico since Tuesday after officials deemed it unsafe for him to land in neighboring Dominican Republic.
On Saturday, the office of Dominican President Luis Abinader issued a statement explaining that decision – saying ‘Henry is not welcome in the Dominican Republic for safety reasons.’
That decision came shortly after another that saw the Caribbean nation close its land border with its embattled neighbor, seemingly leaving the other side of Hispaniola to its fate.
With Henry out of the country, gangs across the region coalesced under Cherizier to from a sort of anti-government militia, waging war on Henry’s administration after he failed to step down as planned in February.
More to follow…