Haiti Prime Minister Resigns Amid Mounting Gang Violence and Political Crisis
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Haiti's prime minister Ariel Henry has resigned after months of escalating gang violence and political crisis. A gang leader had cut off the capital and threatened civil war.
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Armed gangs like Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier's G9 have operated in Haiti for years, but are now more powerful and independent, controlling infrastructure.
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Henry was unelected and delayed elections, overseeing a deterioration of institutions like the police and judiciary as gang violence exploded.
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The U.S. and U.N. have proposed sending a multinational police force to stabilize Haiti, but it faces funding and logistical issues. Critics say it fails to address root political issues.
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Civil society groups have put forward political transition frameworks involving transitional councils and elections, but it's unclear if new leadership will be seen as legitimate.