Haitian PM calls for calm as violent protests demand his resignation
Al Jazeera
Rallies have paralysed the country amid calls for ouster of Ariel Henry in line with political agreement forged in 2022.
Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has called for calm in a public address as violent protests have erupted across the country demanding he step down.
Henry’s brief speech did little to appease the thousands of Haitians angry and frustrated over growing gang violence and deepening poverty with no general election in sight.
“I think the time has arrived for all to put our heads together to save Haiti, to do things another way in our country,” Henry said on Thursday without elaborating.
He encouraged Haitians not to view the government or national police as their enemies. Those who choose violence, destruction and killing people to take power are “not working in the interests of the Haitian people”, he added.
The legislature is empty after the terms of its last 10 senators expired in January 2023. The country failed to hold planned elections in 2019 and 2023, and Henry assumed power with the support of the international community after the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.
