Will the State soon be back in Haiti?
Negotiations to form transitional authorities in Haiti are progressing, a Caribbean official said Wednesday, while the country is still plagued by gang-related violence and the resigning Prime Minister is still in exile.
“Discussions are continuing, I’m sure it will take a little time.
But from all indications, things are moving forward,” said Guyana's ambassador to the UN, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, when asked about talks around the transitional presidential council to take the reins of the country.
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Without a president or parliament - the last head of state, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated in 2021 - Haiti has not had an election since 2016. Ariel Henry, Prime Minister appointed by Jovenel Moïse, should have left office at the beginning of February.
Highly contested, the latter was unable to return to his country after a trip to Kenya, and agreed to resign on March 11.
The same day, several countries and organizations such as the Caribbean Community (Caricom), currently chaired by Guyana, met urgently in Jamaica.
A future transitional presidential council, which should notably be composed of representatives of Haitian political parties, was announced at the end of the meeting.
This body must try to put the country, large parts of which are in the hands of armed gangs, back on the path to stability.
A source within the Haitian government for its part affirmed that for the moment, “no list (of names) has (was) communicated to the Prime Minister” who has resigned.
A special advisor to the latter told the American channel CNN last week that only Ariel Henry and his cabinet could officially name the transitional council according to the Constitution, once the names of its future members had been collected.
Barricades erected by local residents
Alongside these discussions, unrest continued near Port-au-Prince, after a night marked by heavy gunfire according to witnesses.
Armed men have been trying since Tuesday evening to take control of several neighborhoods in Pétion-Ville, according to three residents of this town contacted by AFP.
The shooting continued Wednesday morning, according to the same source.
Residents erected barricades in certain areas and on certain main roads to try to protect themselves against these armed men, which slowed down activities in the capital, residents said.
Insecurity also threatens small traders, one of whom told AFP that he did not know how he “managed to hold on”.
" I am broke.
I have nothing left to sell.
I have always lived in Pétion-Ville but I sold in downtown Port-au-Prince.
Since insecurity has skyrocketed, it is no longer possible to go and sell,” lamented Gérard Vil, another merchant.
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Faced with the chaotic situation and fears of a mass exodus, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees took the lead and refreshed the guidelines to ensure that the most vulnerable Haitians would be protected.
UNHCR reminded States that it was “imperative to ensure that Haitians receive the international refugee protection they may need.”
“We also reiterate our call to all States not to forcibly return people to Haiti, including those whose asylum requests have been rejected,” insisted the UN agency.
American nationals evacuated
The United States Department of State also indicated on Wednesday that it had chartered a helicopter which transported around fifteen of its nationals from Port-au-Prince to the neighboring Dominican Republic.
“We expect the helicopter to make several trips to try to get as many American citizens out as possible,” a spokesperson said.
According to another State Department official, at least 30 Americans are expected to be evacuated each day, including Wednesday, aboard these flights, which will continue depending on the security situation and demand.