Haiti’s Political Upheaval: Leader Barred Entry Amid Resignation Pressure
Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry finds himself in a precarious position as he attempts to return home amidst escalating challenges, including gang attacks that have forced the closure of Haiti’s main international airport and the release of over 4,000 inmates. As of midday Wednesday, Henry remains in Puerto Rico after being barred from landing in the Dominican Republic due to the closure of its airspace to flights to and from Haiti.
Locked out of his country amid a security crisis, Henry is confronted with mounting calls for his resignation from various officials, creating a political impasse. Here’s a closer look at the embattled prime minister and the crisis at hand:
Who is Ariel Henry?
Ariel Henry, a 74-year-old neurosurgeon who received training and worked in southern France, entered Haitian politics in the early 2000s. Initially, he led a movement opposing then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Following Aristide’s ousting, Henry became a member of a U.S.-backed council tasked with selecting the transitional government.
In June 2006, he assumed the role of director-general of Haiti’s Ministry of Health and later became its chief of staff, playing a key role in managing the government’s response to the devastating 2010 earthquake. In 2015, Henry took on the position of minister of the interior and territorial communities, overseeing Haiti’s security and domestic policy. Subsequently, he was appointed minister of social affairs and labor, but his resignation from the Inite party led to calls for him to step down.
Henry then faded from the public eye, working as a political consultant and serving as a professor at Haiti’s medical university. He returned to prominence when he was appointed prime minister shortly after the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, who had selected him for the role.
Moïse’s party likely believed that Henry would bring credibility and a constituency to the position, given his background and previous involvement in Haitian politics. However, the current challenges, including gang violence and the closure of essential infrastructure, have put Henry in a delicate political situation.
Brian Concannon, executive director of the U.S.-based nonprofit Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, notes that Henry must have been a significant figure for the president to select him for the role of prime minister. The current turmoil poses significant challenges for Henry as he navigates calls for resignation and the need to address the security crisis gripping Haiti.
As the situation unfolds, Henry’s ability to manage the political and security challenges will determine the trajectory of Haiti’s leadership and stability in the coming days.
