Haiti's President Appeals for Peace Amidst Demands for His Resignation

Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry made a national address on Thursday, calling on Haitians to come together and "save" the country amidst mounting violent protests demanding his removal. Haiti has been plagued by gang violence for years, and tensions had been escalating leading up to February 7th, the traditional day for new presidents to be inaugurated. Since the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, Mr. Henry was chosen as the prime minister and has been ruling the country. He has repeatedly promised to hold long-overdue elections but has cited escalating gang violence as a hindrance to organizing free and fair elections. As a result, Haiti has not had an elected government since January 2023. The political vacuum and alarming levels of violence have fueled widespread protests, with people expressing frustration over the inability to meet basic needs and send their children to school. Adding to the tension, a former police chief named Guy Philippe, who played a pivotal role in the ousting of former President Bertrand Aristide twenty years ago, returned to Haiti. Philippe has been calling for a "rebellion" against Mr. Henry through social media and was seen shaking hands with his supporters in the capital city. The situation escalated further when police clashed with armed members of Haiti's Security Brigade for Protected Areas (BSAP), resulting in the death of five members. The BSAP has been accused of transitioning into a paramilitary group instead of an environmental protection agency, and some of its members are believed to be allies of Philippe. Mr. Henry attempted to address the issue by firing the head of the department overseeing the BSAP, but this only further angered the brigade. In response to the crisis, he has also appealed to the United Nations for assistance in curbing the power of the gangs controlling vast territories in Haiti. However, only Kenya has committed to sending officers, with the deployment facing uncertain prospects due to a court ruling.