The leader of a criminal organization responsible for a six-day uprising against Haiti’s prime minister, Ariel Henry, has alleged that the country may fall into civil war unless their temporarily exiled leader resigns.
Wearing an olive green tactical vest and flanked by armed foot soldiers in balaclavas, the gang boss Jimmy Chérizier told reporters his country was staring into the abyss. “Either Haiti becomes a paradise or a hell for all of us,” declared Chérizier, a police officer turned gang leader whose nom de guerre is Barbecue.
Chérizier stated that if Ariel Henry does not step down and the international community continues to back him, it will likely result in a civil war and potential genocide.
In the past week, members of gangs have freed numerous prisoners and attacked key areas in the city of Port-au-Prince, such as two airports, police stations, and a port. The country’s main international airport has experienced widespread flight cancellations due to the ongoing siege by gangs, with a new attack on the airport occurring on Tuesday.
According to Jean-Marc Biquet, the leader of Médecins Sans Frontières in Haiti, there is no one in charge. He expresses concern that the police will eventually give up and declare the situation hopeless, potentially leading to complete chaos.
US officials are stating that there will be no insistence for Henry to resign, but they are urging him to swiftly develop a strategy for transitioning to a democracy. This adds to the existing pressure from the Caribbean regional organization, Caricom.
Chérizier’s efforts to garner attention from the cameras are strikingly different from the near complete silence exhibited by Henry and his weakened administration.
Monique Clesca, a writer and political activist based in Port-au-Prince, expressed horror and heartache over the current situation, lamenting the government’s lack of action and incompetence under Henry’s administration.
The elderly neurosurgeon who took over as acting president of Haiti after the 2021 murder of President Jovenel Moïse has been absent from the public eye since the rise of gang violence. He was in Kenya at the time, trying to accelerate the arrival of a multi-national security team.
American authorities report that Henry’s arrival successfully addressed the constitutional obstacles impeding the deployment of Kenyan forces. The security team is prepared to swiftly travel to Haiti if needed. However, it is uncertain if they will be transported by the US military, and the timeline for when the airport will be deemed safe enough for them to arrive remains uncertain as well.
After rumors about his location for several days, on Tuesday, Henry reportedly tried to fly from the United States to Port-au-Prince’s international airport in an attempt to return to Haiti. However, El Nuevo Día, Puerto Rico’s biggest newspaper, reported that Henry’s private jet was not allowed to land. The aircraft was also unable to land in the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. As a result, Henry had to retreat to San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. It is currently unknown what his next steps will be.
The US state department spokesperson for El Nuevo Día stated that the prime minister’s travel plans would be addressed by himself. They also mentioned that no military aid is being offered by the United States to assist the prime minister in returning to Haiti.
The United Nations Security Council is planning to have a confidential urgent assembly on Wednesday to discuss the escalating security situation in Haiti. This issue is making the existing humanitarian crisis even worse, resulting in nearly 50% of the country’s 11.7 million people facing severe food shortages, according to the World Food Programme.
When questioned about Chérizier’s demand for Henry’s resignation, Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the state department, informed journalists: “We ask all parties to prioritize the well-being of the Haitian people, put an end to the violence – which includes these gangs responsible for the recent unrest – and make the appropriate compromises to facilitate inclusive leadership, fair and open elections, and the reinstatement of democratic processes.”
Source: theguardian.com
