Haiti’s PM Ariel Henry reroutes to Puerto Rico due to gang violence threat

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry is forced to detour to Puerto Rico amid threats of civil war by gang leader Jimmy Cherizier

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry landed in Puerto Rico Tuesday amid a surge in gang violence in Haiti, heightening fears of a descent into civil war.

Following his trip to Kenya for a regional summit, Henry’s return to Haiti was obstructed because of security concerns and closures at Haiti’s main airport, which has been under assault from armed gangs.

His plane was diverted to Puerto Rico after being denied entry into Haiti and the neighboring Dominican Republic.

The current crisis in Haiti escalated last week when gangs led by Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier, a former police officer, launched attacks against government infrastructure and facilitated a mass prison break, freeing around 4,000 inmates.

What Haitian gang leader Jimmy Cherizier wants

Cherizier has been vocal in his opposition to Henry’s government, stating: “Our goal is to break the system,” and has issued a stark warning: “If Ariel Henry doesn’t resign, if the international community continues to support him, we’ll be heading straight for a civil war that will lead to genocide.”

Haiti has been mired in political and civil unrest, particularly following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021.

This unrest intensified under Henry’s leadership, with widespread calls for his resignation.

A resident, Michel St-Louis, expressed the sentiments of many Haitians: “Haiti is now under the control of the gangs. The government isn’t present.”

The United States’ stance against crisis in Haiti

While supporting Henry, the Biden administration has not committed U.S. troops to the crisis, emphasizing instead the need for a multinational security force. Dan Foote, a former Biden envoy, highlighted the situation’s urgency: “It’s an absolute necessity now. We’ve let this slide from worse to worse while abdicating our responsibility to others.”

The United Nations Security Council is set to hold a closed-door meeting to discuss the crisis. However, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric noted the absence of plans for a “formal U.N. peacekeeping mission” separate from the endorsed multinational security force primarily involving Kenyan police officers.

Henry’s unexpected presence in Puerto Rico underscores the dire situation in Haiti, where governance and security have significantly deteriorated.

As the international community deliberates its response, the future of Haiti and its leadership hangs in a precarious balance.

Source: Newsroom