Haiti’s Security Crisis Reaches Breaking Point as Gangs Press Prime Minister to Resign
Haiti is facing a security crisis of unprecedented proportions as an alliance of armed gangs is pushing for Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign, putting the United States in the middle of a power struggle that is gripping the country. The Biden administration is increasing pressure on Henry to enable a transfer of power in an effort to ease the standoff.
The situation in Haiti has been deteriorating rapidly, with escalating unrest, food shortages, and a lack of progress towards democratic elections and restoring security. The impasse reached a critical point when Henry, who has been supported by the United States since assuming leadership after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, was unable to return to Haiti due to safety concerns at the airport in Port-au-Prince, which has been targeted by gang attacks.
As scenes of looting and chaos grip the capital city, gang leaders have taken advantage of the power vacuum, leading to further instability. The situation has become so dire that Jimmy Chérizier, a top gang leader known as Barbecue, warned that failure to remove Henry could lead to civil war.
The United States, which has traditionally held significant influence in Haitian politics, is urging Henry to expedite the transition to an empowered and inclusive governance structure. However, the Biden administration has made it clear that there are no plans to deploy U.S. soldiers to assert order in Haiti.
The violence unleashed by gangs has exacerbated an already acute humanitarian crisis in Haiti, with thousands of people forced to flee their homes in recent days. Widespread hunger is also a pressing concern, with millions of people facing emergency levels of food insecurity.
The deepening chaos in Haiti has raised doubts about a plan for Kenya to lead a security mission to the country, which the United States has been advocating for. The agreement, signed by Henry during a recent visit to Nairobi, may not have legitimacy without approval from Haiti’s parliament and future leadership.
As the crisis in Haiti continues to escalate, the international community is closely watching the situation, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the power struggle that is threatening to plunge the country into further turmoil.
