Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has resigned amid deadly gang violence in the country escalates.
Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, also the Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) announced on Monday.
“We acknowledge his resignation upon the establishment of transitional presidential council and naming an interim prime minister.”
Henry has not been in his country since February, when he traveled to Kenya to sign a reciprocal agreement with President William Ruto, who has agreed to deploy 1,000 police officers to the largely gang-controlled country.
Heavy gunmen have since barricaded the main airport at the capital, Port-au-Prince, vowing to block his return.
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This escalation of violence left the Prime Minister and other senior officials he had traveled with to Kenya stranded in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.
Following Henry’s resignation, a transitional presidential council was formed to name an interim prime minister.
Ali said the presidential council would have two observers and seven voting members, including representatives from several coalitions, the private sector, civil society, and one religious leader.
The surprise resignation follows a meeting of regional leaders Monday in nearby Jamaica to discuss the framework for a political transition, which the U.S. urged last week to be “expedited” as armed gangs sought to topple his government.
It remains unclear if Kenya will still send forces to Haiti following the Prime Minister’s resignation.
