Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has officially stepped down from his position as the head of Haiti, according to an announcement made by Caribbean Community chair Irfaan Ali on Monday. Henry, a 74-year-old neurosurgeon, had held the unelected role since 2021.
“We acknowledge his resignation upon the establishment of a transitional presidential council and naming of an interim prime minister,” said Ali, who is also the president of Guyana, expressing gratitude for Henry’s service to Haiti.
Henry’s resignation follows a recent trip to Kenya aimed at securing its leadership in a United Nations-backed international security mission to combat armed gangs in Haiti. However, a surge in violence in the capital city of Port-au-Prince during his absence left him stranded in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory.
The announcement of Henry’s resignation coincided with a meeting of regional leaders in Jamaica, where discussions centered on the framework for a political transition. The United States had urged for an expedited transition, while local gangs had called for Henry’s departure.
Regional officials have been actively engaged in talks involving various sectors of Haitian society, including political parties, the private sector, civil society, and religious groups. These discussions aim to establish a transitional council that will facilitate the first elections in Haiti since 2016.
Henry, who has faced allegations of corruption by many Haitians, had repeatedly postponed elections, citing the need to restore security first.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of creating a “broad-based, inclusive, independent presidential college.” This council would address the immediate needs of the Haitian people, facilitate the deployment of the security mission, and establish the necessary security conditions for free and fair elections, Blinken stated.
