WASHINGTON, United States: The United States on Wednesday urged Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry to facilitate a political transition and hold elections.
“We are urging him to expedite the transition to an empowered and inclusive governance structure that will move with urgency to help the country prepare for a multinational security support mission to address the security situation and pave the way for free and fair elections,” Matthew Miller, the US State Department spokesman, told media.
Miller said the United States, along with the Caribbean bloc CARICOM, wanted Henry to make concessions in the interests of the Haitian people.
But he added that they didn’t ask him to resign or force him to resign, a key demand of the leader of the powerful gang known as Barbeque.
Instead, Miller said Henry should appoint a more comprehensive “provisional council.”
Henry, who was due to resign last month, was abroad last week when armed criminal gangs that control large swaths of Haiti launched a coordinated attack aimed at ousting him.
According to the U.S. territory’s governor’s office, Henry landed in Puerto Rico on Tuesday due to problems returning home.
The State Department, however, declined to discuss president Henry’s travel plans or how long he would be allowed to stay in the US.
President Joe Biden’s administration has prioritized funding a fledgling national police force in the Caribbean nation and ruled out sending troops to Haiti, a country that has seen repeated U.S. interventions.
Kenya came forward after a months-long search by the United States to lead the international stabilization force, but was blocked by a court ruling in the East African nation.
Looking for a way forward, Henry traveled to Nairobi last week to sign an agreement between Kenya and Haiti to deploy “reciprocal” police.
Miller pointed to “progress” in the UN-backed law and order mission, hoping that it will happen as soon as possible.
