Ariel Henry, Prime Minister of Haiti, resigned amid mounting chaos, according to regional leaders on Monday. The resignation will take effect after a transition committee and temporary replacement are named.
Irfaan Ali, Guyana’s leader and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) President, confirmed Henry’s resignation as head of the Caribbean country following the killing of its previous president in 2021.
Ali went on to say: “We acknowledge the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry upon the establishment of a transitional presidential council and the naming of an interim prime minister.”
Under Henry’s leadership, violent gangs expanded their riches, influence, and territory, causing the 74-year-old neurosurgeon to seek Kenya’s cooperation for a United Nations-backed security mission.
However, the situation worsened, leaving Henry stuck in Puerto Rico, causing regional leaders to demand for an immediate handover.
“The government that I am leading will resign immediately after the installation of (a transition) council,” Henry stated in a televised speech. “I want to thank the Haitian people for the opportunity I had been granted.”
“I’m asking all Haitians to remain calm and do everything they can for peace and stability to come back as fast as possible,” he said in a statement.