Haiti: Progress Made in Transition Negotiations, but Violence Escalates Too

Negotiations to form transitional authorities in Haiti are progressing, according to a Caribbean official, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, the Guyana ambassador to the United Nations. She did not, however, specify a timeframe and said it is a process that will likely take some time. She provided no further details but expressed optimism about discussions surrounding the transition council, who will be tasked with governing the country.

Meanwhile, no list of candidates for the council has been forwarded to the resigning Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, according to a Haitian government source. A special advisor to Henry had previously stated on CNN that only Henry and his cabinet have the authority to officially appoint the transition council based on the constitution. This process can only begin once all potential members’ names have been collected.

Haiti has had neither a president nor a parliament since Jovenel Moïse, the last head of state, was assassinated in 2021. No election has been held in the country since 2016. Ariel Henry, who was appointed by Jovenel Moïse as Prime Minister, should have resigned from his position in early February.

Henry, who has been widely criticized and was unable to return to Haiti following a trip to Kenya, officially agreed to resign on March 11th. On the same day, several countries and organizations, including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which Guyana currently chairs, convened an emergency meeting in Jamaica.

As violence continues to escalate in and around Port-au-Prince, with gangs attempting to gain control of several neighborhoods, the implementation of the transition council is seen as a critical step towards bringing stability back to the country. The future transition council, composed of representatives from Haitian political parties, is designed to restore order in the country, which is currently marred by violence and instability.