Negotiations to form transitional authorities in Haiti are progressing, a Caribbean official said Wednesday, March 20, while the United States is organizing new evacuations for its nationals in this country ravaged by gang violence.

The unrest continued near Port-au-Prince with gunfire still recorded late in the afternoon, according to an AFP correspondent.

The nighttime curfew was extended until Saturday in the West department which includes the capital, authorities announced.

"The discussions are continuing, I'm sure it will take a little while. But from all indications it is moving forward," Guyana's UN Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said when asked about the talks. around the transitional presidential council due to take the reins of the country.

EDE/RED, one of the political groups having already submitted a name to represent it within this body, finally chose another person on Wednesday, AFP learned from the group.

Without a president or parliament - the last head of state, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated in 2021 - Haiti has not had an election since 2016. Ariel Henry, appointed by Jovenel Moïse, should have left office at the beginning of February.

Helicopter

Highly contested, Ariel Henry, who was unable to return to his country after a trip to Kenya, agreed to resign on March 11.

The same day, several countries and organizations such as the Caribbean Community (Caricom), currently chaired by Guyana, met urgently in Jamaica. 

A future transitional presidential council, which should notably be composed of representatives of Haitian political parties, was announced at the end of the meeting.

This council must try to put the country, entire sections of which are in the hands of armed gangs, back on the path to stability.

The United States Department of State said Wednesday that it had chartered a helicopter which transported around fifteen of its nationals from Port-au-Prince to the neighboring Dominican Republic.

“We expect the helicopter to make several trips to try to get as many American citizens out as possible,” a spokesperson said.

According to another State Department official, at least 30 Americans are expected to be evacuated each day, including Wednesday, aboard these flights, which will continue depending on the security situation and demand.

The French embassy in Haiti indicated that it was carrying out a census of French people “wishing to leave Haitian territory when conditions permit”.

Dams

On Wednesday, a police officer assigned to security at the prime minister's office was shot dead, according to the Synapoha police union.

And armed men have been trying since Tuesday evening to take control of several districts of Pétion-Ville, according to three residents of this town located in the suburbs of the capital, contacted by AFP.

Residents erected barricades in some areas to try to protect themselves against the armed men, which slowed down activities in the capital, residents said.

"Today there were many roadblocks in Port-au-Prince. As a result, WFP was only able to deliver hot meals to 10 of the 14 sites we had planned to reach," said sur the head of the World Food Program in Haiti, Jean-Martin Bauer.

“We will do everything we can to help, but we need security,” he added. 

Insecurity also threatens small traders.

"I am ruined. I have nothing left to sell. I have always lived in Pétion-Ville but I sold in the city center of Port-au-Prince. Since insecurity has skyrocketed, this is not the case. is no longer possible to go and sell,” lamented Gérard Vil, a merchant.

Faced with the chaotic situation and fears of a mass exodus, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees reminded States that it was "imperative to ensure that Haitians receive the international protection of refugee status that they could need".

“We also reiterate our call to all States not to forcibly return people to Haiti, including those whose asylum requests have been rejected,” he insisted.

With AFP

The France 24 summary of the week

invites you to look back at the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 application