Haiti’s most publicised gang leader has warned of a genocide should Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry be allowed to return to power in Haiti even as he remains stranded in Puerto Rico unable to return to the troubled French-speaking CARICOM country.
Jimmy Cherisier, alias, Barbecue, who’s been acting as the chief of operations for the armed criminal gangs that are seeking to overthrow the government, warned Wednesday of a genocide, should Henry persist in his efforts to remain in power.
“If Ariel Henry does not step down, if the international community continues to support him, there will be a civil war, which would end in a genocide in Haiti,” Cherisier told reporters.
“The US, Canada, France, and the whole group of western Ambassadors (known as Core Group) will be solely responsible for the deaths which would follow a decision to allow Henry to remain in power in Haiti.
“Toppling Henry’s government is a first step in our struggle towards establishing a new system, which would take into account the social interests of the Haitian people. After getting rid of Henry, we’ll make sure that the country is led by a strong government, and that there is a strong justice system,” he added.
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Cherisier told reporters that “our immediate goal is to look for government ministers, and those supporting Ariel Henry.
“If anybody knows where they may be found, we want to know, so we may go after them,” he said.
Henry is now stranded in Puerto Rico after having travelled to Kenya where he signed an agreement allowing for the UN Security Council sanctioned international force led by the African country to restore peace and security in his troubled country.
But the criminal gangs that have all, but taken over the capital, Port-au-Prince, said a new government would soon be installed with a judge, Durin Duret Jr, as chairman assisted by former rebel leader and former police commissioner Guy Philippe, and Francoise Saint-Vil Villier, from the religious sector.
Haiti’s new de facto rulers have been, over the past couple of days, increasing their efforts to hasten the process towards installing a new presidential council to lead the country.