What's happened
Haiti's transitional council has nominated Fritz Belizaire as the new prime minister, succeeding interim PM Michel Patrick Boisvert. Belizaire faces the daunting challenge of stabilizing the country amidst violent armed gangs controlling many areas. The council is also tasked with appointing a cabinet and electoral council to pave the way for Haiti's first general elections since 2016.
Why it matters
The resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the appointment of Fritz Belizaire mark significant developments in Haiti's political landscape. The new leadership must address the country's instability and violence, with implications for the upcoming general elections and the future of Haiti.
What the papers say
The Guardian emphasizes the surprise appointment of Fritz Belizaire as prime minister and the challenges faced by the transitional council in establishing a stable government amidst gang violence. Al Jazeera highlights the internal squabbles within the council and the delay in the political transition process.
How we got here
Haiti has been grappling with political turmoil and violence, with armed gangs exerting control over various regions. The resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the formation of a transitional council aim to bring stability and pave the way for general elections.
Common question
More on these topics
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Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti formerly founded as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, to the east of Cuba and Jamaica and south of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos
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Ariel Henry is a Haitian politician and neurosurgeon who is the Prime Minister-designate of Haiti. He is the minister of interior and territorial communities since 2016.
On July 5, 2021, he was selected as the next prime minister of Haiti.
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Port-au-Prince is the capital and most populous city of Haiti. The city's population was estimated at 987,310 in 2015 with the metropolitan area estimated at a population of 2,618,894.