Haiti | Race against time to launch a political transition

(Port-au-Prince) Political parties and personalities of Haiti strive Wednesday to agree on the composition of transitional authorities after the announcement of the resignation of contested Prime Minister Ariel Henry, in order to try to restore a semblance of stability in this Caribbean country undermined by gangs.

Monday, during an emergency meeting in Jamaica with the participation of Haitian representatives, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the UN and several countries such as the United States and France tasked Haitian formations to set up a “presidential transition council”.

Just before the resignation of Ariel Henry was announced, who was unable to return to his country and found himself stuck in Puerto Rico. Appointed a few days before the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, he was strongly contested in recent months.

Haiti, which has not had an election since 2016, is still without a head of state.

“24 to 48 hours”

The transitional presidential council must be formed of seven voting members representing the main political forces in Haiti and the private sector. Two observers without the right to vote must also represent the voice of civil society and the religious community.

This group must “quickly” appoint an interim prime minister, according to CARICOM.

The U.S. State Department said Tuesday that the council should be formed “within 24 to 48 hours.” However, the negotiations seem arduous and most of the parties contacted by AFP indicate that they are still in talks.

If the EDE/RED/Historical Compromise group, a formation close to the murdered president Jovenel Moïse, has already submitted its representative to CARICOM (former minister Marie Ghislaine Mompremier), members of the December 21 collective – group by Ariel Henry – they disagree on the choice of their representative.

A majority chose former MP Vikerson Garnier, but some members opposed it.

“We’re talking about political parties that haven’t been able to agree over the last few years,” said Ivan Briscoe, director of the Latin America and Caribbean program at the International Crisis Group.

Now that Ariel Henry is leaving, “perhaps they will turn to the national interest and leave their party interests aside for a while, until the elections.” But there are obviously concerns about their ability to agree,” he added.

Shy recovery

Meanwhile in Port-au-Prince, scene of an outbreak of violence in recent weeks, commercial activities resumed on Wednesday according to an AFP correspondent.

Public transport was visible on the streets and some public administration offices reopened after more than two weeks of closure.

However, schools remain closed, as does the international airport.

Several residents of the capital welcomed the announcement of Ariel Henry’s resignation, but some question the place to be given to the gangs, which control entire swathes of the country, including 80% of Port-au-Prince, and are accused of multiple abuses.

Mr. Henry “was the biggest obstacle we had […]. He had no real plan for the country. But we should have a quick mechanism to replace it,” said Emmanuel, who did not wish to give his last name.

Now “it is up to the Haitian people to decide who should be prime minister and who should be president. These people should be patriotic Haitians, and they must have a sense of national sovereignty,” said Jean Dieuchel.

Fritz Fils Aimé believes that “nothing can be done now if we do not coordinate with the armed gangs”. “We need an agreement,” he maintains.

Faced with the complex situation, Kenya announced on Tuesday that it would suspend the planned sending of police officers to Haiti as part of an international mission supported by the UN. The Kenyan president, however, said on Wednesday that this deployment would take place “as soon as the presidential council is[it] in place “.

According to the International Organization for Migration, 362,000 people are currently displaced in Haiti.

The UN, following in the footsteps of numerous Western embassies, announced on Wednesday that it was withdrawing its “non-essential” staff from the country.