Haiti's Exiled Prime Minister Ariel Henry Resigns

 


Ariel Henry, Haiti's Prime Minister, has agreed to quit after weeks of escalating pressure and rising violence in the poor country.

It comes after regional officials convened in Jamaica on Monday to discuss Haiti's democratic transition.

Mr Henry is currently stranded in Puerto Rico after being stopped by armed groups from going home.

In a video message announcing his departure, Mr Henry asked Haitians to be calm.

"The government that I am leading will resign immediately after the installation of [a transition] council," he stated.

"I want to thank the Haitian people for the opportunity I have been granted. I'm asking all Haitians to remain calm and do everything they can for peace and stability to come back as fast as possible."

Mr Henry, who had led the country on an interim basis since July 2021 following former President Jovenel Moïse's killing, repeatedly postponed elections, citing the need to restore security first.

Many Haitians had questioned his ability to manage the country for so long without an elected president.

In recent days, heavily armed gangs have ruled the streets of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, calling for the resignation of the unelected prime minister.

The capital, Port-au-Prince, and the surrounding region are under a month-long state of emergency, with a curfew extended.

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