Haiti’s hope for a presidential election is challenged by street gangs controlling Port Au Prince. Transitional Council leader Fritz Alphonse Jean calls for unity. Meanwhile, the Kenyan-led Multi-National Support Mission provides crucial support despite USAID cuts. The situation has deteriorated since President Moise’s assassination in 2021, resulting in widespread violence and homelessness.
Haiti’s hope for a presidential election is currently centered on the new leader of the Transitional Presidential Council, Fritz Alphonse Jean. He has notably drawn attention to the extensive influence of street gangs, which have recently intensified attacks in the capital, Port Au Prince, where they control eighty-five percent of the territory. Jean emphasizes the urgency of unity in the face of these threats: “Our country is at war and we need to be unified in order to win it.”
Despite being the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti remains under the umbrella of the Kenyan-led Multi-National Support Mission, comprised of eight hundred personnel out of a thousand. This assistance persists even amidst the USAID cutbacks instituted by the Trump administration. Kenyan President William Ruto reconfirmed support during a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, wherein both leaders underscored their commitment to enhancing cooperation.
The UN Security Council initially authorized the security mission in 2023. Although the forces present are significantly outnumbered, they represent a vital source of hope, working to restore order in Haiti amid the escalating unrest. The crisis worsened following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise on July 7, 2021, which left democracy hanging by a thin thread, resulting in thousands of deaths and rendering over a million citizens homeless.
In summary, Haiti is at a crucial juncture as it anticipates upcoming presidential elections while grappling with severe gang violence. The Transitional Presidential Council, led by Fritz Alphonse Jean, stresses the need for national unity. Support from the Kenyan-led mission, amid US aid reductions, represents a critical effort to reinforce security and democracy in Haiti, which has suffered greatly since the assassination of President Moise.
Original Source: www.vaticannews.va
