Haiti’s Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, resigned from his position on Thursday, following recent security challenges bedeviling the Caribbean country.
“In accordance with the decisions of the political agreement signed on April 17, 2024, I have the honor to submit my resignation to the President of the Republic,” Henry stated in a letter dated April 24, signed by his office in Los Angeles, as reported by CBS News.
The resignation came on the same day that a council, tasked with selecting a new prime minister and cabinet for Haiti, was scheduled to be sworn in. This interim council was established more than a month after Caribbean leaders announced its creation following an emergency meeting to address Haiti’s escalating political and security crises.
The nine-member council, with seven having voting powers, is also expected to help outline the priorities of a new cabinet. Additionally, it will appoint a provisional electoral commission, a necessary step before elections can proceed, and establish a national security council.
Haiti has been grappling with security challenges since February.
Recall that gangs launched coordinated attacks in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and its surrounding areas. The attackers set fire to police stations and hospitals, opened fire on the main international airport (which has remained closed since early March), and stormed Haiti’s two largest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates.
