Residents of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince were preparing for another tense night on Friday, amidst continued attacks in various parts of the city following the resignation of Prime Minister Henry and the absence of a clear plan for his replacement.
Claude Atilus, a resident, expressed concerns, saying, “Ariel Henry resigned but we are still in political distress. We must take our destiny into our own hands. I want the political players to rise to the task and commit themselves to organizing the country.”
In one area of the city, a man carried a white coffin through Champ de Mars square, while in Delmas neighborhood, flaming tires and roadblocks were seen on the streets.
Vendor Jean-Phillipe Jean-Louis shared his exhaustion, noting the exorbitant prices, and the dangers of working on the streets, stating, “When we merchants go out into the streets looking for money to feed our children and wives, we find nothing.”
The United Nations’ children’s fund has raised concern about record hunger and life-threatening malnutrition in the capital’s poorest and busiest neighborhoods, with one in four children nationwide suffering from chronic malnutrition.
Recent satellite images revealed shipping containers blocking access to heavy cranes at the country’s main cargo port, which was temporarily closed due to a break-in, and heightened security measures were visible around the National Palace following a recent bout of heavy shooting.
Reports indicated a confrontation between police and gangs in the Delmas area, historically associated with the G9 alliance led by Jimmy “Barbeque” Cherizier.
Henry, who was not elected as prime minister, announced his resignation on Monday while stuck in Puerto Rico due to international pressure and escalating violence in Haiti preventing his return.
His resignation is contingent upon the appointment of an interim replacement by a transition council, although the council members have yet to be determined, and some political groups nominated for representation have either rejected the proposed plan or failed to unite.
Cherizier issued a warning to politicians participating in the council, asserting that Henry’s resignation was just the “first step in the battle” for the Caribbean nation.
Local reports indicated that discussions on a compromise were scheduled to take place on Saturday.
(Reporting by Jefferson Philogene and Harold Isaac in Port-au-Prince, Michelle Nichols at the United Nations, and Sarah Morland in Mexico City; Editing by William Mallard)
