Haiti: Prime Minister Henry Resigns Amid National Instability

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Facts

• After meeting with regional leaders in Jamaica on Monday to discuss a political transition in Haiti following a surge in gang violence, Prime Minister Ariel Henry has agreed to step down.¹
• In a video posted Monday, Henry announced that his government will resign once a transitional council has been formed, emphasizing the importance of peace for Haiti. Henry's government will serve as a caretaker government until a new prime minister and cabinet are appointed.²
• The violence escalated in late February when Henry postponed elections until August 2025. It also coincided with Henry's journey to Kenya, where he signed an agreement to expedite the UN-approved deployment of 1K Kenyan police officers to help restore order in Haiti.³
• Jimmy Cherizier, who is also known as 'Barbecue' and directs the gang federation G9 Family and Allies, said that if the global community continues on its current trajectory, 'it will plunge Haiti into further chaos.'⁴
• The scope of international response is still undefined. Brazil, Canada, France, Mexico, the UN, and the US are discussing assistance for Haiti, only days after the US State Department ordered the Marines to assist US Embassy personnel in the Caribbean country.⁵
• Following discussions among Caribbean nations and other stakeholders, a decision was made to establish an independent college in Haiti. Per US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the college aims to establish the necessary security environment for conducting free elections.⁶

Sources: ¹BBC News, ²CNN, ³ABC News, ⁴Euronews, ⁵FOX News and ⁶Al Jazeera.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Al Jazeera. The decision by Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign signals that he accepts responsibility for the Caribbean nation's grave security situation but also that he's willing to head the transitional government until a new administration has been elected. The armed gangs have demanded that Henry resign or risk civil war. The regional Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) has offered the necessary tools for a peaceful democratic transition once the UN's multinational security force arrives in Haiti.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by FOX News. The Prime Minister has done what the gangs have requested him to do. He resigned. However, this does not appear to be sufficient for the gangs, who have pledged to attack any foreign troops. They regard a UN-led multinational security force in Haiti as a provocation. The gangs will not be represented in the presidential college, whose policies might even unintentionally fuel even more violence and riots. Haiti will have to brace itself because it looks like it will get worse before it gets any better.

Predictions