Civil unrest is growing in Haiti as the government seeks international help to crack down on gang violence and alleviate a worsening humanitarian crisis.
The Caribbean nation has made international headlines since the 2021 assassination of former president, Jovenel Moise. But last month, daily life began to spin out of control in the nation due to multiple crises, including fuel blockades and a cholera outbreak.
The Haitian government has turned to Canada and other nations for help. Here’s how Haiti got here, and what’s happening now.
Haiti’s political instability has simmered since last year’s slaying of Moise, who had faced opposition protests calling for his resignation over corruption charges and claims that his five-year term had ended. He dissolved the majority of parliament in January 2020 after failing to hold legislative elections in 2019 amid political gridlock.
With global inflation soaring this year due to several factors, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, Haiti has been hit hard. Last month, Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced the end to fuel subsidies, causing prices to double.
Looters carry away items during a protest to reject an international military force requested by the government and to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Oct. 17.
Odelyn Joseph/AP
She said the resolution being worked on was a “direct response” to requests from the Haitian government and Guterres’ proposition. The Security Council is also considering a sanctions package.
Both Russia and China raised questions about sending a foreign armed force to Haiti.
In Washington, U.S. lawmakers introduced a bill on Monday to investigate and punish any political elites colluding with the gangs, but President Joe Biden’s administration has appeared skeptical of sending troops to Haiti, which has a long history of U.S. military intervention.
