IntelBrief: Haiti’s President Resigns After Gangs Threaten Civil War

Bottom Line Up Front:

• Haitian Acting President Ariel Henry announced on Tuesday that he would resign after a major gang leader threatened civil war and a possible “genocide” if Henry refused to step down.
• A peacekeeping deal to send one thousand Kenyan police officers to Haiti was paused until a new Haitian government can be formed.
• Gangs set part of Haiti’s Interior Ministry on fire last weekend, and in recent weeks have attacked the main international airport, police stations, and jails, freeing thousands of inmates.
• Haiti’s government has been largely vacant for months, with Ariel Henry serving as an unelected president and refusing to call elections since taking over for his predecessor who was assassinated in 2021.