The parties in Haiti that are going to establish the long-awaited governing council have demanded that it be seated “as soon as possible,” charging that the departing prime minister has altered the conditions of their previous agreement.
The announcement followed a proclamation published in the official gazette of Haiti announcing the council’s establishment on April 12, 2024, one month after Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced his resignation in the face of a flurry of attacks in the nation’s capital by armed gangs.
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The council’s purpose is to facilitate a peaceful exit for Henry, who has served as Haiti’s unelected leader since President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in 2021, making room for fresh presidential elections.
However, weeks of political backstabbing have delayed its establishment, and its recent edict seems to have stoked even more conflict.
Said in a text message dated April 13, 2024, the decision “deeply shocked” the nine organizations and political parties that would have representation on the council.
They questioned the text’s legitimacy and decried “the introduction of major modifications” that “distort” the initiative.
They specifically asked that a political agreement made on April 3 that described the goals and composition of the council, as well as its membership, be published in the official gazette.
The departing administration recognized the council’s establishment in its proclamation, but it omitted a list of its members.
Then the government issued a request for “the personalities designated by the stakeholders” to provide paperwork to be approved by authorities.
This seemed to cause a delay in the council’s formation and sparked concerns that some of the names would be rejected by the government.
The nine stakeholders underlined that Henry and his administration must make it easier for the council to be installed “as soon as possible,” as per the terms of the April 3 agreement.
Elections have not been conducted in Haiti since 2016. Since Moise’s murder, the poor country has struggled with escalating political and security issues.
A UN-backed force headed by Kenya was supposed to arrive in the nation last year and assist its struggling police in keeping criminal gangs from causing devastation.
However, despite appeals for assistance from humanitarian organizations due to escalating hunger, extreme poverty, and inadequate healthcare, the force has not yet been sent into action.
In February, when Henry was in Kenya attempting to arrange the multinational force’s deployment, gangs plotted an attack and demanded that the 74-year-old quit.
Following the outburst of violence, thousands of Port-au-Prince citizens fled the city and foreigners were evacuated, despite warnings from relief organizations that their numbers would not be supported by infrastructure in other areas of the nation.
Henry consented to stand down and help the transitional council form in March under significant pressure from the US and the region.
Two non-voting observers and seven voting members chosen from Haiti’s political spectrum will comprise the council.
If there is political infighting, there are questions about its ability to control the gangs.
