A group of Democratic lawmakers has issued an urgent request to the Biden administration to withdraw its support for the proposed multinational military intervention in Haiti, as well as for Ariel Henry, the de facto prime minister suspected of involvement in the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse.
The request was made in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken led by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), along with six other Democratic lawmakers. The representatives stressed that the focus should be on preventing Haitian gangs from gaining access to illicit weapons and ammunition, rather than on foreign military intervention that could perpetuate instability in the country.
They expressed concerns about the potential negative impact of such intervention on the transition to a democratic government led by Haitians themselves. The signatories of the letter called for a withdrawal of US support for Ariel Henry, emphasizing the need to encourage negotiations for a genuine democratic political transition led by Haitian stakeholders.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley was joined in the request by several other members of the Democratic Party, stressing the need for a different approach to U.S. policy on the situation in Haiti. They also highlighted the regular calls from the Haitian diaspora in the United States for the Biden administration to turn its back on Ariel Henry, who is combining the posts of prime minister and interim president.
Haitian authorities have suspected Ariel Henry of involvement in the assassination of Jovenel Moïse, although local investigations appear to have stalled. Meanwhile, an investigation in Florida by the Center for Economic and Policy Research has been constrained by confidentiality restrictions, including because of some suspects' ties to U.S. intelligence.
Despite these suspicions and ongoing investigations, the Biden administration and other Western governments continue to support Ariel Henry with millions of dollars in security assistance. However, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols has previously stated the United States’ desire not to interfere in Haitian politics or pick winners or losers.
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