What's happened
Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry has agreed to hold general elections by mid-2025, following pressure from Caribbean leaders. The international community is also seeking funds for a foreign armed force to combat gang violence in Haiti, where the situation has deteriorated significantly.
Why it matters
The commitment to hold elections in Haiti is crucial for restoring democracy and stability in the country, which has been plagued by violence and political unrest. The support from the international community, particularly the US, underscores the urgency of addressing the security and humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
What the papers say
AP News reports that Caribbean leaders have expressed deep concern over the political stalemate in Haiti and the need for a clear path towards elections. The US, as highlighted by both AP News and The Independent, has reiterated its support for restoring peace in Haiti and providing assistance for a multinational force to address the security challenges.
How we got here
Haiti has been facing ongoing turmoil, with armed gangs controlling parts of the country and escalating violence. The push for elections comes after a political agreement in 2022, which aimed to see Prime Minister Ariel Henry stepping down and power being transferred to newly elected officials. The situation in Haiti remains dire, with widespread unrest and humanitarian challenges.
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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The Caribbean is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands and the surrounding coasts. The region is southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and the North American mainland, east of Central America, and north of South America.
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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Linda Thomas-Greenfield is an American diplomat who served as the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs in the United States Department of State's Bureau of African Affairs from 2013 to 2017.
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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.