According to a senior State Department official, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently had a phone conversation with Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry in which he stressed the urgent need for a more inclusive government. Brian Nichols, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere Affairs, revealed that the discussion was intense due to the ongoing wave of gang violence threatening Haiti’s government.
Additionally, Blinken also communicated with Guyana’s president, Irfaan Ali, who chairs the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) regional bloc, as mentioned by Nichols during a think-tank conference in Washington.
“Secretary Blinken spoke with President Ali and with Prime Minister Henry about the urgent need to accelerate transition to a broader, more inclusive government today and those were intensive conversations,” Nichols shared.
Although specific details about Henry’s location were not disclosed, it was noted that the prime minister has been in Puerto Rico since Tuesday and has not returned to the capital. Gunfire incidents near important transportation areas, including the international airport, have been reported.
In response to the surge in gang violence causing mass displacement, Haiti’s government announced an extension of the state of emergency around Port-au-Prince for an additional month.
The initial declaration of a state of emergency was made on Sunday following heightened conflict, prison breakouts, and the displacement of tens of thousands of individuals while Henry was in Kenya.
“Helping Haiti restore security and democracy, especially at this critical moment, represents a top priority for the administration,” Nichols emphasized.
Amidst the ongoing conflict, the United Nations has estimated that hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes, with thousands losing their lives in the process. There have been numerous reports of heinous acts such as rape, torture, and ransom kidnappings.
