Haiti faces uncertain future as grieving first lady returns



[ad_1]

“The fact that she has returned might suggest that she intends to play a certain role,” said Laurent Dubois, an expert from Haiti and professor at Duke University. “She can intervene one way or another.

Martine Moïse arrived just hours after a prominent group of international diplomats issued a statement that appeared to avoid acting Prime Minister Claude Joseph, the man who currently runs the country with support from the police and military. .

Joseph’s name was never mentioned in the statement made by the Core Group, made up of ambassadors from Germany, Brazil, Canada, Spain, United States, France, European Union and representatives of the United Nations and the Organization of American States.

The group called for the creation of a “consensual and inclusive government”, adding: “To this end, it strongly encourages Prime Minister-designate Ariel Henry to continue the mission entrusted to him of forming such a government.”

Henry was appointed Prime Minister a day before the death of Jovenel Moïse. He did not respond to requests for comment.

The UN, OAS and the US State Department provided no further explanation when contacted.

Given the current state of Haitian politics, Dubois said he believed the arrival of Martine Moïse could have an impact.

“She is obviously in a position to play a role (…) given how open things are,” he said, adding that the Core Group’s statement is striking as it makes no reference to Joseph. . “One has to wonder if the developments of the investigation have anything to do with this. It’s all these puzzle pieces that change from moment to moment. Right now it seems very difficult to figure out how to put them together. “

Authorities in Haiti and Colombia say at least 18 suspects directly linked to the murder have been arrested, the majority of them former Colombian soldiers. At least three suspects have been killed and police say they are looking for many more. Colombian officials said the majority of the former soldiers were duped and were unaware of the assassination plot.

The Haitian police on Sunday identified another suspect in the case: Pierre Joseph Ashkard. Online records show he is a Canada-based businessman who runs a medical business in Texas with Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a Haitian doctor and pastor who local authorities recently arrested and considered a key suspect.

A day after the murder, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said Joseph was the incumbent and was acting prime minister before the assassination: “We continue to work with Claude Joseph as such, ”he said.

On July 11, a delegation of representatives from various US agencies traveled to Haiti to examine critical infrastructure, meet with the Haitian National Police, and meet with Joseph, Henry and Haitian Senate President Joseph Lambert during a meeting. joint.

The worsening political unrest has prompted dozens of Haitians to visit the American embassy in Port-au-Prince in recent days to apply for a visa or political asylum.

“We can’t stay in the country any longer,” said Jim Kenneth, a 19-year-old who would like to study medicine in the United States. “We feel very insecure.”

[ad_2]

Source link