Haiti's transitional government took office in Port-au-Prince on April 25, 2024 – shrouded in secrecy for security reasons – at a political precipice and multifaceted policy subdivision. It was a remarkable enough event for this country below. crisis.
First of all, this is a tribute to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which has done everything in its power to support Haiti, especially during this period of instability.
For another, it provides a much-needed sign of better times ahead. Haitians living in the country have endured years of political instability and hellish living conditions, with a confluence of factors weighing heavily on their daily circumstances.
This reality, as much as the short stature of democracy there has affected the environment in question, has at the same time been damaging to the roots of democracy itself.
Haiti's transition to democracy has been fragile due to its history of dictatorship during the Duvalier era. The constitutionally scheduled general election in 2019 was canceled, causing a major setback. Two years later, and as Haitian civil society had long feared, the prospects for Haitian voters to exercise their right to vote have worsened.
The impasse in Haiti's elections became even more severe after President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in July 2021 and Prime Minister Ariel Henry took over.
Yesterday's political developments in Port-au-Prince mark a rare development in the field of political change in Haiti.
era of with people in distress For this The government headed by Henry, who resigned in connection with the advent of this political transition, ended in a sense.
Michel-Patrick Boisvert, who served as finance minister in Henry's government, will become the new interim prime minister. Boisvert will serve in this role “until the transition council appoints a new head of government, a cabinet and an interim electoral council to prepare the way for a final vote.”
Henry's loss of Washington's political support in recent months has accelerated the laying of the groundwork for an ongoing political transition, the terms and framework of which are largely tied to the yeoman diplomatic efforts of the CARICOM bloc, of which Haiti is a member. was.
But whether this moment marks a turning point for Haiti is an open question.
The gang violence plaguing the country has intensified since the crisis began earlier this year, and is reportedly continuing. This serves as a confirmation, however temporary, of the new reality of power.
They lean towards continuous engagement with different stakeholders, based on purpose, seizing moments of opportunity but also seizing risks, and hopefully continuing engagement with different stakeholders. It probably won't be easy to tackle.
There is no doubt that CARICOM and other key players will continue to be involved in the process, especially through pre-agreed arrangements.
This is one of the keys to the expected success of this new and particularly delicate political era in Haiti.
The hopes of the beleaguered state and its many supporters in the regional community and the broader international community rest on the success of the transitional government in carrying out its relatively discrete mandate.
But the involvement of politics in exploring ways forward has given many pause and suggests, once again, that the importance of this new political moment should not be overstated. I am.
Given the severity of the crisis currently facing Haiti and the discouraging reality that has befallen the country, it is time for all concerned to continue to stand shoulder to shoulder.
Haiti is not out of the woods yet. It's not far away.
The bottom line is that things are likely to go sideways, especially if the gang problem is allowed to worsen and political forces sacrifice the country's new (and tentative) democratic march on the altar of power games. is.
It may be temporary, but far from being chastened by the new government's arrival on the political stage, criminal armed organizations are in the current situation, against the backdrop of a long-term collapse of state power and an increasingly “usurped” situation. They will take advantage of it and take action. As democracy declines, control follows. ”
Those in power charged with preparing the system for the transition to electoral democracy have little choice but to confront the ubiquity of gang influence in social strata. It will be an uphill battle to take Haiti back from the clutches of gangs that have historically been embedded in the country's political culture. However, commitments by third parties to provide necessary support are considered in the broader context of security imperatives.
Will we be able to successfully manage these and other related pressing issues? We will have to wait and see.
But the core questions remain the same as always in Haiti. Will those charged with the weighty responsibility of steering the future direction of the world's first black republic navigate the country's political turmoil? people Do those seeking human and national development have a real chance to turn the tide?
Without a timely answer to this question, the political upturn of this moment will be short-lived.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Geopoliticalmonitor.com.
