Ariel Henry, the unelected interim prime minister of Haiti, has agreed to resign following weeks of intensifying pressure and deteriorating security conditions in the impoverished Caribbean nation.
The announcement came after regional leaders from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) met in Jamaica on Monday to discuss a political transition plan for Haiti amid the chaos.
In a video address, Henry stated that his government "will resign immediately after the installation of [a transition] council." He urged Haitians to remain calm as efforts get underway to restore stability.
Henry had been leading Haiti without an elected mandate since July 2021, following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. However, he faced widespread criticism for repeatedly postponing elections, citing the need to re-establish security first.
The streets of the capital Port-au-Prince have descended into lawlessness, with heavily armed gangs tightening their grip. Gangs have conducted brazen attacks, including storming the main prison to free inmates and targeting police stations.
Henry himself was stranded in Puerto Rico after gangs blocked his return to Haiti by attacking the international airport.
The impoverished nation has been under a state of emergency and curfew for over a month due to the gang insurgency.
Matthias Pierre, a former Haitian elections minister, described the situation as "very precarious" with a weakened police force, limited military, and gangs occupying parts of the capital.
He warned that people would soon run out of food, medicine and medical support without outside intervention, suggesting any new political settlement would be impossible without "support" from an international armed force.
The United States has committed $300 million to fund a UN-backed multinational security force expected to be led by Kenya, with an additional $33 million in humanitarian aid announced by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Caricom aims to swiftly establish a transitional presidential council to appoint an interim prime minister and pave the way for overdue elections, which have not been held in Haiti since 2016.
As the gangs seek to assert influence in any future power-sharing deal, the resignation of the interim leader marks a pivotal step in attempting to pull Haiti back from the brink of full-fledged societal collapse.