Haiti PM Ariel Henry Resigns After Jamaica Talks Amid Chaos, Violence In Country

The unelected prime minister of Haiti Ariel Henry tendered his resignation on Monday after the Jamaica talks amid escalating gang-led violence.

Ariel Henry took office in Haiti after the President's assassination in 2021.

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The Prime Minister of Haiti, Ariel Henry on Monday, resigned as head of the Caribbean nation after the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) held an emergency summit regarding the situation in Haiti, where gang-led violence has caused a breakdown of law and order in the country.

 Haiti has repeatedly seen postponement of elections. The current chair of CARICOM and Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali thanked the 74-year-old neurosurgeon Henry, who held the unelected role since the assassination of the country's last president Jovenel Moïse in 2021, news agency Reuters reported.

"We acknowledge his resignation upon the establishment of the transitional presidential council and naming an interim prime minister," the report quoted President Ali saying.

Ali stated that the presidential council will likely have seven voting members and two observers, including representatives from civil society, the private sector, several coalitions, and a religious leader. He also stated that the council has been directed to appoint an interim prime minister "swiftly" and the candidates who intend to run in Haiti's next elections will not be allowed to participate, Reuters reported.

In February, Henry traveled to Kenya to secure its leadership of a security mission backed by the United Nations. His visit was aimed at bringing help for the police to fight armed gangs and restore order so the elections could be held. But during his absence the capital witnessed a drastic escalation in the violence, which left him stranded in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, Reuters reported.

Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State was also present at the summit where he promised an additional $100 million for a UN-backed force to stabilise the country and $30 million in humanitarian assistance, Al Jazeera reported.

Calling for the creation of a "broad-based, inclusive, independent presidential college" Blinken stated earlier on Monday: "We all know that urgent action is needed on both the political and security tracks."

Henry's resignation came in after the regional leaders on Monday met in Jamaica to discuss the framework for a political transition as the armed gangs wanted to topple his government. The US too had urged the country last week to expedite the process given the situation.

The gangs, led by Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier had been controlling the streets of Haiti, demanding Henry's resignation, and had warned of civil war if he did not step down, Al Jazeera reported.

Henry was supposed to tender his resignation in February and was locked out of Haiti since the unrest escalated in the country. He had however landed in Puerto Rico last week after he was denied entry into the Dominican Republic.