Haiti: As a new government takes form, Prime Minister Ariel Henry steps down

Haiti’s Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, formally stepped down Thurday, as a transitional government took its oath, ushering in Michel Patrick Boisvert as the interim president.

Boisvert, alongside a nine-member transitional presidential council, aims to quell the rampant turmoil fueled by gangs in Port-au-Prince.

Boisvert, who served as Haiti’s Minister of Economy and Finance since 2020, brings a wealth of experience. Previously, he held roles such as Director of Tax Inspection from 2010 to 2018 before assuming the directorship at the Ministry of Economy and Finance. His academic background includes a master’s degree in economic policy management from the University of Auvergne in France, supplemented by studies at the University of Port-au-Prince and the State University of Haiti.

Back in March, Henry had pledged his resignation contingent upon the establishment of a transitional government.

The inauguration of the presidential transition council took place on Thursday morning on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince.

On Wednesday, militia leader Jimmy “Barbeque” Chérizier underscored the necessity of including armed groups in discussions about Haiti’s political future.

The delay in forming the presidential transition council, which succeeded Henry, stemmed from weeks of intense maneuvering among various political factions vying for control.

Establishing the council marks a critical initial stride toward quelling the chaos plaguing Haiti, attributed largely to rival gangs battling for dominance, particularly in the capital, amid a backdrop of weak state institutions.