Haiti Prime Minister resigns as new government set to take over power

The prime minister of Haiti, Ariel Henry, resigned his position on Thursday, paving the way for a new government to be formed in the Caribbean country.

According to CBS News, Henry presented his resignation in a letter dated April 24 and signed in Los Angeles by his office.

The development occurred the same day a council tasked with choosing a new prime minister and cabinet for Haiti was due to be sworn in.

The interim council was set to be installed more than a month after Caribbean leaders announced its creation, following an emergency meeting to tackle Haiti’s spiralling and parallel political and crime crises.

The nine-member council, of which seven have voting powers, is also expected to help set the agenda of a new cabinet. It will also appoint a provisional electoral commission, a requirement before elections can take place, and establish a national security council.

Haiti has been facing security challenges since February.

Gangs launched coordinated attacks in the capital, Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas.

The assailants burned police stations and hospitals opened fire on the main international airport that has remained closed since early March, and stormed Haiti’s two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates.

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