Haiti’s Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, tendered his resignation on Thursday as a new council was inaugurated to lead the country amidst escalating gang violence.
Due to a recent surge in violence, officials relocated the ceremony from the National Palace in the capital to the outgoing prime minister’s office.
Mr. Henry had agreed to step down last month following armed groups blocking his return to the country.
With gangs now controlling most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, they have exploited the power vacuum created by the prime minister’s departure, extending their influence over large areas of the country, resulting in pockets of lawlessness.
Ariel Henry announced his intention to resign after encountering obstacles returning from Kenya, where he had finalized an agreement to bring in a multinational security force to address the ongoing lawlessness.
Meanwhile, a newly formed transitional council hastily implemented stringent security measures in anticipation of Thursday’s inauguration, during which its nine members were sworn in.
The council’s mandate is to devise a strategy to restore order and guide Haiti back to democratic governance, with support from other Caribbean nations and the US.
However, gunfire near the National Palace, the intended venue for the ceremony, necessitated a relocation to the prime minister’s office, known as Villa d’Accueil.
Law enforcement began by utilizing tear gas to disperse crowds gathered on the streets near the palace on Wednesday.
Ahead of the ceremony, gangs, previously responsible for attacks on the palace, pledged to disrupt the proceedings. One of Haiti’s most influential gang leaders, Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue, issued a social media threat aimed at the transitional council.
“Regardless of your installation, this message is directed at you: Prepare yourselves,” cautioned Chérizier.
Leading a loose coalition of gangs known as Viv Ansanm (Live Together), he commands control over roughly 80% of Port-au-Prince.
Chérizier had recently indicated a willingness to consider disarmament if armed factions were included in talks to establish a new government.
Expressing discontent with the escalating violence in Haiti, he warned of a prolonged crisis unless groups like his, which oppose “corrupt politicians,” are involved in future governance efforts.
In a report published last month, the United Nations described the situation in Haiti as “cataclysmic,” citing more than 1,500 fatalities and 800 injuries in the first three months of 2024.
The report outlined the “harrowing practices” of the gangs, which stand accused of employing extreme violence and sexual abuse for punishment and control.
Aid groups have encountered challenges in delivering food and water to the capital, highlighting that millions are struggling to access sustenance, with some teetering on the brink of famine.
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