the future presidential council promises to restore “public order and democracy”

The upcoming presidential transitional council promises to appoint “a Prime Minister, with whom he or she will constitute a government of national unity.”

A highly anticipated first communication. The future Haitian presidential council, which must take the reins of the country after the announcement of the resignation of the contested Prime Minister Ariel Henry, committed in a press release to restore “public and democratic order” to try to end the crisis in Haiti, Wednesday March 27.

“As soon as it is installed, the presidential council will appoint a Prime Minister, with whom it will constitute a government of national unity and put Haiti back on the path to democratic legitimacy, stability and dignity”wrote the members of this body which has yet to be officially set up. “Together we will execute a clear action plan aimed at restoring public and democratic order”they added.

Ariel Henry announced his resignation on March 11, at a time when Haiti, already in the grip of a deep political and security crisis, was experiencing renewed violence. The same day was announced the upcoming formation of a transitional presidential council, to represent the main Haitian political forces as well as the private sector, civil society and the religious community.

The capital 80% controlled by gangs

His taking office was delayed by internal disagreements. The members now claim to have agreed on “the criteria and mechanisms for the choice of the president or president of the presidential council”as well as for the appointment of the future interim Prime Minister and the ministerial cabinet.

In the meantime, the population continues to pay a high price for instability. Gangs control entire swaths of the country, including 80% of the capital Port-au-Prince. The head of Unicef, Catherine Russell, warned this week of the fact that“countless children” were at risk of losing their lives due to the multidimensional crisis ravaging Haiti, “while vital aid is ready to be distributed if the violence stops and roads and hospitals reopen”. Kenya was due to send a thousand police officers to Haiti as part of a UN-backed mission, but announced that it was suspending the deployment in view of the situation.