Haiti's Prime Minister Resigns

Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry has resigned. This was reported by Reuters, citing Guyanese President Irfaan Ali and a senior U.S. official. Thus, he is leaving the position he has held since the assassination of the country's previous president in 2021.

“We recognize his resignation following the establishment of a transitional presidential council and the appointment of a temporary prime minister,” said Ali, who is also the President of the Caribbean Community, expressing gratitude to Henry for his service to Haiti.

A senior U.S. official stated that Henry remains in Puerto Rico, and that the decision regarding his resignation was made last Friday. Henry has expressed a desire to return to Haiti in the future, the official added.

The prime minister's resignation comes after regional leaders met in nearby Jamaica on Monday to discuss a political transition framework, which the U.S. called to be “accelerated” last week through the establishment of a presidential council.

Ali stated that the presidential council will include two observers and seven voting members, including representatives from various coalitions, the private sector, civil society, and one religious leader.

At the end of February, Henry traveled to Kenya to secure the leadership of a United Nations-backed international security mission to assist police in combating armed gangs in Haiti. However, a sharp spike in violence in the capital, Port-au-Prince, during his absence resulted in him remaining in Puerto Rico.

Haitian gangs, led by former captain Sherizier, known by the nickname 'Barbecue,' launched an attack on February 29 to topple the government, assaulting and looting police stations, prisons, and hospitals, as well as besieging strategic facilities including the port and airport.

Last week, a U.S. official warned that Henry's unpopular government could fall “at any moment.”