Haiti Politicians Derail Kenya's Plan by Rejecting Seat in Transitional Council

Haiti
Haiti gang leaders taking over the nation's main prison.
Photo
Odelyn Joseph/AP

The plan by President William Ruto's administration to deploy police officers to Haiti faces yet another hurdle after a political party in the Caribbean nation rejected the seat it was offered at the transitional council.

The council is set to take over following Prime Minister Ariel Henry's resignation and will be tasked with naming an interim government before elections. The council will consist of 7 voting members and 2 observers.

According to a report by Al Jazeera, another political party that is supposed to name a representative is still in conflict over the candidate it wishes to field.

In addition, Haiti's Catholic Church revealed that it would not participate in the council as previously anticipated. 

former cop Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier
Former cop Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier and his gang in Haiti.
Photo
wlrn

Instead, the church pointed out that it would keep a moral distance over the matter but hoped that peace would prevail in the country.

The series of incidents are set to cause a further delay in the deployment of police officers to Haiti which was put on hold as Kenya awaits for the Council's formation.

The Council will be mandated with restoring order to the conflict-riddled country by ensuring all stakeholders' voices are represented during the formation of the interim government.

Further, a civil war in the country has caused more chaos as several outlaw leaders battle against Jimmy Cherizier alias Barbecue's G9 gang.

Barbecue claimed responsibility for the series of attacks that occurred in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince including the main international airport last month.

Additionally, the gangs destroyed electrical equipment in major offices, leaving much of the capital city in darkness.

The chaos left hundreds of citizens stranded and under the mercy of the gangs. In response, the United States embarked on evacuating its citizens and dignitaries from the country on Sunday.

As a measure to restore peace in the country as the chaos entered red territory, the country's government declared a State of Emergency. The government also implemented a night curfew for several days that run between 7:00 pm to 5:00 am.

Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry
Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry speaking during a ceremony in memory of slain Haitian President Jovenel Moise at the National Pantheon Museum in Port-au-Prince on July 7, 2022.
Photo
Odelyn Joseph