The United States has set a deadline of 24 hours for Haitian factions to nominate a representative to the transitional council, which is poised to assume control following the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
A spokesperson from the United States Department revealed that the transitional council would consist of a religious figure, a civil society representative, a representative from Haitian factions, and individuals from diverse political and business backgrounds.
Furthermore, the spokesperson outlined the council’s responsibilities, which include appointing an interim prime minister and establishing a body to supervise the electoral process.
As of the latest update, former police officer and leader of the G9 and Family faction, Jimmy Cherizier, commonly known as “Barbecue,” has not released an official statement regarding the directive.
Cherizier gained notoriety in the aftermath of Henry’s departure to Kenya to finalize an agreement for the deployment of 1,000 officers in a peacekeeping mission. He issued warnings to Henry, urging him not to return to Haiti and demanding his resignation, while advocating for the freedom of Haitian citizens.
On Tuesday, March 12, the situation in Port-au-Prince showed signs of improvement, with armed groups withdrawing from the country’s primary airport. Additionally, the primary cargo port resumed operations, and several government offices resumed normal activities.
Concurrently, evacuation efforts continued, with helicopters transporting international visitors and dignitaries out of the country.
Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the United Nations, disclosed plans to reduce the presence of non-essential personnel in Haiti.
Pressure from the United States prompted Henry to expedite preparations for conducting transparent and equitable elections. In response to protests by various Haitian factions, Henry announced his intention to step down to facilitate the electoral process.
In a statement issued on Monday, Henry declared, “The current government will resign immediately upon the establishment of a council. I urge all Haitians to remain calm and contribute to the swift restoration of peace and stability.”
Henry’s resignation also impacted the peacekeeping mission, as confirmed by Sing’oei Korir, the Foreign Affairs PS, who announced the suspension of the deployment of 1,000 police officers to Haiti.
