As chaos continue to escalate in Haiti owing to the delayed deployment of police officers from Kenya, the US is looking for other measures to quell the unrest.
Officials from the White House and the State Department who spoke to the Miami Herald, an American publication, noted that the administration was pushing for the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
Per the officials, the US proposes that Henry should step down as interim leader to facilitate the establishment of new governing structures and appointment of a new prime minister or alternatively wait until when the Multinational Security Support (MSS) force is deployed.
One of the officials revealed that President Joe Biden's administration had lost faith in Henry's ability to lead. The official noted that Henry was unwilling to cede real power in a democratic transition.
The official revealed that the US administration could not see a scenario in which Henry would remain in authority. Henry is said to be working on his plan to remain in power.
Additionally, another official, Linda Thomas Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN explained that Henry had been asked to form a transitional council which would appoint an interim prime minister which would require Henry to resign.
"What we've asked the Haitian prime minister to do is move forward on the political process that will lead to the establishment of a presidential transitional council that will lead to elections. We think that is urgent," he told the publication.
On the other hand, State Department spokesperson Mattew Miller speaking to the press on Wednesday explained that the US was asking Henry to expedite the transition for inclusive governance. He added that officials from the US and others were discussing the matter with the Prime Minister.
As the talks to push Henry to resign continue, US and Caribbean officials have been holding talks with Haitians to reach an agreement on details of who would compose the new structure.
Meanwhile, the US has noted that the Haiti National Police (HNP) could crumble at any time if the deployment is not done urgently.
"The government could fall at any time. If the HNP dissolves as an effective counterforce, if we see the airport or the presidential palace fall, it's over," one of the officials stated
However, despite the US rejecting plans to send their police to the mission, the Biden administration is looking to expedite the deployment of Kenyan police officers and others from other countries.
Notably, Henry was in Kenya last week to sign the agreement to send 1,000 police officers to Haiti with President William Ruto.
However, while he was away, gangs took over the country freeing inmates and disrupting operations at airports. This forced Henry to seek refuge in Puerto Rico before going back to Haiti.
