Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry has tendered his resignation amidst mounting pressure and turmoil in the Caribbean nation. Henry assumed office as Prime Minister in 2021 following the assassination of the country's former president, Jovenel Moise.
The announcement of Henry's resignation was made by Irfaan Ali, the president of Guyana and chair of the Caribbean Community, on Monday. Ali expressed gratitude to Henry for his service to Haiti and acknowledged his resignation in light of the establishment of a transitional presidential council and the appointment of an interim prime minister.
Henry's resignation comes amid a backdrop of escalating violence in the capital city of Port-au-Prince and his recent trip to Kenya to secure leadership of a UN-backed international security mission to combat armed gangs. However, his absence coincided with a surge in violence, leaving him stranded in Puerto Rico, a US territory.
Regional leaders, including those from nearby Jamaica, convened earlier on Monday to discuss the framework for a political transition in Haiti. The United States had urged for an expedited transition, while local gangs called for Henry's resignation.
The ongoing discussions involve various stakeholders from Haiti, including political parties, the private sector, civil society, and religious groups, to establish a transition council to facilitate the nation's first elections since 2016.
Henry, who has faced accusations of corruption by many Haitians, had previously delayed elections, citing the need to restore security first.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the necessity of creating a "broad-based, inclusive, independent presidential college" to address the immediate needs of the Haitian people, facilitate the deployment of security missions, and ensure the security conditions required for free elections.
