France supports the formation of a transitional presidential council in Haiti while calling for elections to be held
“rapidly
,” French diplomatic sources said on Saturday.
The establishment of a transitional presidential council is supported by the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the UN and the United States, as part of an agreement to end the crisis, reached last Monday which also forced the Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign.
“
(This agreement)
will not be easy to implement, but it must be supported because it is for Haiti a historic chance to get the country out of the rut with an inclusive formula that includes most of the forces of the Haitian political spectrum
, estimates French diplomacy according to these sources.
We can support but we cannot decide for the Haitians.
We hope that the Haitian people will organize elections quickly.”
According to Paris, there was a
“general consensus”
during the Kingston meeting to
“not include in this Presidential Council people convicted, indicted, under international sanctions”
.
“Atrocious acts of barbarism”
Haiti is plunged into a situation of quasi-anarchy with entire sections of the country and 80% of the capital in the hands of armed gangs who engage in abuses, murders, rapes, kidnappings for ransom.
Some residents, however, criticize the prospect of this transitional presidential council perceived as interference from abroad.
“There were atrocious acts of barbarism”
committed by the gangs
“which were documented
,” underline French diplomatic sources.
And
“certain gangs are mobilized, engaged in combat under the influence of drugs, under the influence of alcohol and they engage in barbaric acts against the police officers they film.”
Paris supports the Haitian police to whom it paid a contribution estimated at one million euros last year.
She also launched financial contributions amounting to 3 million euros in support of the deployment of Kenyan police officers in Haiti, planned as part of an international mission currently suspended and awaiting the establishment of the presidential council of transition.