On March 8, Haitian people took to the streets to protest, demanding that Prime Minister Ariel Henry resign, as the security situation in this Caribbean country remains in a state of emergency.
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| Haiti is engulfed in violence by criminal gangs. (Source: AP) |
Protesters set fire to barricades on the Delmas Highway, paralyzing the area and blocking traffic in the capital Port-au-Prince. Many carried flags of Russia, the first country to recognize Haiti's independence.
Besides demanding Prime Minister Henry's resignation, protesters also chanted slogans in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Haitian National Police (PNH) dispersed protesters with tear gas as the crowd marched towards the Canadian Embassy.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported on the same day that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Prime Minister Henry on March 7 to ask him to carry out an “urgent” political transition.
“There is an urgent need to accelerate the transition to a larger and more inclusive government ,” Mr. Blinken stressed.
The Haitian prime minister is still in Puerto Rico and it is not known when he will be able to return home. Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi said that Mr. Henry wishes to return home and that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is in charge of ensuring the leader's security.
Mr. Pierluisi emphasized that the Haitian Prime Minister is "a matter related to the foreign relations of the United States", "the United States is the one with the leading voice" and Puerto Rico is only cooperating.
In a related development, also on March 8, the head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) María Isabel Salvador asked the Security Council to take urgent action to address the serious security crisis in the country.
Speaking at a closed-door meeting, highlighting the “unprecedented” levels of violence and the emerging threats from criminal gangs in the Caribbean country, Ms Salvador said there was an urgent need to deploy “a multinational security assistance mission” to Haiti, led by Kenya.
She also said she remains in regular contact with Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and has asked the government and opposition to engage in peaceful, constructive dialogue.
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