Haiti has new council chief as gangs threaten to overthrow authorities : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4575x3050+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F48%2Fec%2F86c3debb47bb8f76c3eb0a6c6045%2Fap25219666169945.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4575x3050+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F48%2Fec%2F86c3debb47bb8f76c3eb0a6c6045%2Fap25219666169945.jpg" class="img" alt="Laurent Saint-Cyr (left) attends the ceremony for his appointment as president of the Transitional Council in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday." fetchpriority="high"/> Laurent Saint-Cyr (left) attends the ceremony for his appointment as president of the Transitional Council in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday. Odelyn Joseph/AP cover caption

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Odelyn Joseph/AP PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A rich businessman on Thursday grew to become the pinnacle of Haiti's transitional presidential council tasked with restoring order within the troubled nation as a high gang chief underscored the challenges going through the nation by vowing to overthrow the federal government.

Laurent Saint-Cyr's appointment on the council's closely guarded workplace within the capital, Port-au-Prince, the place felony gangs management 90% of the neighborhoods, marked the primary time that members of Haiti's personal sector serve in each the rotating presidency and the put up of prime minister, two positions that share the nation's government duties.

Saint-Cyr had his begin at a neighborhood insurance coverage firm whereas Haiti's present prime minister as soon as ran an web agency.

"Our nation goes by one of many best crises in all its historical past," Saint-Cyr mentioned as he was sworn in. "It is not the time for lovely speeches. It is time to act."

Gang chief points a warning Hours earlier, a robust gang federation that has lengthy denounced Haiti's oligarchs threatened to overthrow the federal government, and gunfire erupted in elements of the capital.

In a video posted on social media, Viv Ansanm gang chief Jimmy Chérizier — higher often called "Barbecue" — warns residents to present his armed group free passage by neighborhoods to succeed in the council's workplace.

"Individuals of Haiti, deal with yourselves and assist us … within the battle to free the nation," Chérizier says, sporting a bulletproof vest and with an computerized rifle slung round his shoulder.

A U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police mentioned in an announcement that officers thwarted potential assaults by around-the-clock patrols and by boosting the variety of armed forces in sure neighborhoods and round important infrastructure.

"Armed gangs had plotted to disrupt nationwide stability and render the nation ungovernable," it mentioned.

A name for order Saint-Cyr thanked all nationwide and worldwide actors who've helped Haiti, in addition to the personal sector, which he known as the engine of the nation's financial system. He famous that whereas he is from the personal sector, he would serve all folks equally.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6368x4246+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2F06%2Fae6cf6b74d4dbeb000e4ad4f0657%2Fap25219666933295.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6368x4246+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2F06%2Fae6cf6b74d4dbeb000e4ad4f0657%2Fap25219666933295.jpg" class="img" alt="Transitional presidential council members listen to Haiti's national anthem during the installation ceremony of Laurent Saint-Cyr as the new president of the council in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday." loading="lazy"/> Transitional presidential council members take heed to Haiti's nationwide anthem through the set up ceremony of Laurent Saint-Cyr as the brand new president of the council in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday. Odelyn Joseph/AP cover caption

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Odelyn Joseph/AP Saint-Cyr beforehand served as president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Haiti and of the nation's Chamber of Commerce and Business. He'll be working with Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, a one-time president of an web firm in Haiti and in addition a former president of the nation's Chamber of Commerce and Business.

Saint-Cyr mentioned safety was a precedence. He known as on the armed forces to accentuate their operations and on worldwide companions to ship extra troopers, provide extra coaching and assist increase a mission missing sources and personnel.

"We should restore state authority," he mentioned. "The challenges we face are actually linked to insecurity, however additionally they are the results of our lack of braveness, an absence of imaginative and prescient and our irresponsibility."

He questioned what was stopping the federal government from providing companies Haitians deserve, together with well being and schooling. "Mister prime minister, assume your tasks!" he mentioned.

In the meantime, 58 organizations from international locations that embody america in a letter to Saint-Cyr accused the council of violating its authorized obligations to Haiti's girls and ladies.

"Collective rape is endemic," they mentioned, noting that sexual violence has surged as gangs persist of their rampage. The organizations additionally accused Haiti's authorities of being "fully absent" at shelters the place rape survivors want fundamental companies.

A rising variety of folks have grumbled about Haiti's personal sector main the nation. A few of Haiti's rich elites and highly effective politicians have lengthy been accused of financing and arming dozens of gangs.

"The elites have all the time wished energy, and so they have all the time wished to manage Haiti, and now they're in management," mentioned Marline Jean-Pierre, a 44-year-old trainer who braved gunfire to go to a good friend at a hospital in downtown Port-au-Prince.

She mentioned she has misplaced hope that issues will change, accusing former council presidents of constructing guarantees they did not hold.

"Nothing actually occurred," she mentioned. "Younger girls are being raped, households are being dismantled."

Nevertheless, dozens of Haitians sporting white T-shirts and clutching indicators emblazoned with Saint-Cyr's {photograph} gathered exterior the council's workplace to help him.

Skirmishes broke out hours later between supporters and people who opposed Saint-Cyr.

"Despite the fact that he is a mulatto with good hair, he is Haitian," one supporter mentioned of Saint-Cyr, who's a part of the nation's small and highly effective lighter-skinned elite — as is Fils-Aimé.

'Stay on guard!'

Because the nation ready for Saint-Cyr's swearing-in ceremony, Haitians posted a flurry of warnings about violence in hopes that individuals may stay protected.

"These of you within the capital, you'll hear gunshots each forward of you and behind you. Stay on guard!" one message acknowledged.

Tripotay Lakay, a neighborhood information website, reported that one individual was killed and one other injured whereas driving into Port-au-Prince on Thursday, although it was unclear how that occurred. A video posted on social media exhibits a lady's physique slumped within the automobile.

Heavy gunfire round downtown Port-au-Prince continued on Tuesday afternoon, with native media reporting that a number of folks had been wounded. Small explosions from police-manned drones additionally had been heard.

Violence additionally was reported in Kenscoff, a as soon as peaceable farming space above the hills of Port-au-Prince.

The U.N.-backed mission mentioned it misplaced two armored autos after they grew to become trapped in trenches dug out by gangs. It mentioned Kenyan policemen got here below an assault with Molotov cocktails however "courageously held their floor, inflicting vital injury on the assailants." Three officers obtained minor accidents.

Movies posted on social media present suspected gang members laughing and cheering as they surrounded one of many armored autos that was later set on hearth.

"Come get it again should you can!" one gunman is heard jeering.

A plea for extra officers

In a report launched Thursday, the U.N.-backed mission famous that it has 991 personnel, far lower than the two,500 envisioned, and a few $112 million in its belief fund — about 14% of the estimated $800 million wanted a yr.

The mission mentioned it has no air help for operations and that solely 200 officers may be deployed at a time due to inadequate gear, together with autos.

The mission additionally famous that the federal government stays fragile: "Partisan infighting throughout the transitional authorities has had the impact of paralyzing the federal government and emboldening the gangs."

Gangs in Kenscoff lately kidnapped eight folks from an orphanage, together with an Irish missionary and a 3-year-old youngster. They continue to be lacking.

Violence surged within the aftermath of the July 2021 killing of President Jovenel Moïse, and ongoing violence has displaced greater than 1.3 million folks lately.

Not less than 1,520 folks had been killed and greater than 600 injured from April to the top of June throughout Haiti. Greater than 60% of the killings and accidents occurred throughout operations by safety forces in opposition to gangs, with one other 12% blamed on self-defense teams, in accordance with the United Nations Built-in Workplace in Haiti.