Ariel Henry in the context of Ministry of Interior and Territorial Communities (Haiti)

⭐ Core Definition: Ariel Henry

Ariel Henry (French pronunciation: [aʁjɛl ɑ̃ʁi]; born 6 November 1949) is a Haitian neurosurgeon and politician who served as the acting prime minister of Haiti from the assassination of Jovenel Moïse in 2021 until his resignation in 2024, due to armed gangs taking over much of Port-au-Prince and being trapped outside of Haiti. During the period when the position of President of Haiti was vacant, executive authority was exercised by the Council of Ministers, which Henry presided over as acting prime minister. He also served as the acting Minister of Interior and Territorial Communities.

Henry became mired in controversy due to his refusal to cooperate with the authorities regarding his connections with Joseph-Félix Badio, one of the suspects accused of orchestrating the assassination of Moïse. Officers who investigated the case suspected Henry was involved in planning the assassination.On 11 March 2024, Henry announced that he would resign when the Transitional Presidential Council was created, doing so on 24 April 2024 when the council was installed. Henry's outgoing cabinet appointed the Minister of Finance and Economy Michel Patrick Boisvert as the interim prime minister.

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Ariel Henry in the context of Haitian crisis (2018–present)

The existing political, economic, and social crisis began with protests across cities in Haiti on 7 July 2018 in response to rising fuel prices. These protests gradually evolved into demands for the resignation of President Jovenel Moïse. Led by opposition politician Jean-Charles Moïse (no relation), protesters demanded a transitional government, provision of social programs, and the prosecution of corrupt officials. From 2019 to 2021, massive protests called for the Jovenel Moïse government to resign. Moïse had come to power in the 2016 presidential election, which had voter turnout of only 21%. Previously, the 2015 elections had been annulled due to fraud. On 7 February 2021, supporters of the opposition allegedly attempted a coup d'état, leading to 23 arrests, as well as clashes between protestors and police.

On 7 July 2021, President Moïse was assassinated, allegedly by a group of 28 foreign mercenaries; three of the suspected assassins were killed and 20 arrested, while police searched for the other gunmen and the organizers of the attack. On 20 July Ariel Henry assumed the office of acting prime minister.

View the full Wikipedia page for Haitian crisis (2018–present)

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