Haiti must do elections to quell gang violence: Foreign policy skilled | Morning in America

There are growing concerns this morning that Haiti could fall at any moment at the hands of violent gangs prime minister Ariel Henry left the country last week since then armed gangs have attacked Haiti's largest prison freeing thousands of inmates at least 15,000 Haitians have now fled the country's capital a port of Prince where gangs are.

Believed to be in control of most of the city now as violence escalates the Prime Minister has not been able to return to Haiti with more and more people calling him to step down Haiti's most powerful gang leader known as barbecue has already given an ultimatum to the PM resign or quote this country is headed straight to a genocide for more insight.

Into what's happening in Haiti I'm joined by higar shamali foreign policy expert and political satirist harar welcome to the show thanks hea great to see hna great to see you always great to see you my friend so let's start with the Prime Minister gangs want Ariel Henry gone leader leaders in the Caribbean also want him gone the US even.

Urging him to expedite the transition to a new government what's the problem with the current prime minister well his issue is that he he has overstayed uh his welcome basically now at the same time I I absolutely don't think he should step down to allow gangs to take over but the issue is that there were supposed to be elections he.

Has postponed those elections uh arguing that there he needs to restore stability but it ends up looking like a power grab when ultimately what the US is trying to push for and others is just making sure that democracy remains upheld in Haiti at the same time you have at the moment 200 gangs that have overrun Haiti they control 80% of the capital Porto prance.

And the majority of the country in general and that has been the case ever since the assassination of their of their previous president Jovan El Moes back in 2021 and so since then you've always had gang violence in Haiti but since then it's been exceptionally bad and while I do think this prime minister is trying to make a bit of a power grab.

Uh I also think that he does need to move ahead to elections that are free and fair and that are monitored by International observers AAR tell us more about barbecue of course that's the man leading the gangs in this violent takeover how dangerous is he what do we know about him well he his gang and all the gangs in Haiti are exceptionally.

Dangerous Haiti is one of the most dangerous countries in the world we just don't often think of it that way because more focused on these other conflicts that are that get more airtime right Ukraine and Israel Gaza obviously but what's happening in Haiti is is exceptionally dangerous and what these gangs are doing are are just widespread.

Murder kidnapping and rape and they are taking over areas and when they take over areas on top of it you have people who are actively fleeing their homes uh to run away from this from these gangs so on top of it you have mass displacement and the reason we should care aside from the fact that we would care about this anywhere in the world is.

That this is our hemisphere Haiti is our neighbor essentially and this conflict contributes a lot to the increase you have in migration that you see at the southern border you mentioned Henry has postponed plans to hold elections allowing himself to remain in power do you think that's just a formula for more violence in that.

Country well it's almost like negotiating with terrorists gangs is really gangs are really no different and so on one hand he needs to move ahead and and pursue and hold these elections and not come off as though he's trying to grab power or not come off as though he's trying to play the system and at the same time he needs to make sure that.

By by having these elections that they are set up in a way where gangs don't get some kind of opportunity to seize power or or or pursue a coup when you have a vacuum and and so and that is the main issue here The Gangs when they're calling for him to resign it's because they want him out they would like to seize control.

When the chaos you have right happening right now happened after two prison outbreaks that that took place after gang stormed them and it was because the Prime Minister was in Kenya negotiating a deal where a Kenyan Le security force would help stabilize Haiti they don't want that because that's that encroaches on their criminal Behavior such a.

Dangerous and complicated situation Hagar shamali we always appreciate the contacts thank you thanks for watching everybody go to join nn.com to find newsnation on your television provider also don't forget get to click that red subscribe button below to get more of news nation's fact- driven unbiased coverage.

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