Haiti has sworn in a transitional governing council after months of gang violence, which forced Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign. The ceremony was held at the Prime Minister's office rather than the Presidential Palace as police failed to gain control of the area around the compound.

Port-au-Prince

Haiti has inaugurated a transitional governing council following Prime Minister Ariel Henry's resignation amidst escalating gang violence. The swearing-in ceremony occurred at the Prime Minister's office, not the Presidential Palace, due to police inability to secure the palace's surroundings. Heavy gunfire marked the ceremony's commencement in Port-au-Prince, underlining the severe social turmoil and violence plaguing the nation.

The newly formed council has pledged to address the gang violence that has driven Haiti towards social collapse. Amid the chaotic scenes outside the ceremony venue, gang members clashed with police, resulting in at least two fatalities. The violence has underscored the lawlessness in the streets of Haiti's capital, where armed gangs frequently overpower the police forces.

A tragic incident was reported where a woman lost her son, a civilian caught in the crossfire, dispelling the notion of safety anywhere in the country. His death accentuates the indiscriminate violence affecting the Haitian populace, as the victim was reportedly unaffiliated with any gang activities. Following the establishment of the Transitional Council, Michel-Patrick Boisvert was appointed as the interim prime minister, taking over from Ariel Henry. Boisvert emphasized the importance of prioritizing the general interest and national recovery.

International observers have lauded the formation of the Transitional Council as a potential pivotal moment for Haiti, which has witnessed over 2,500 deaths due to the crisis this year. Despite threats from Haitian gang leaders to impede the council's work, there are intentions to deploy an international security force led by Kenya to assist in restoring order.



Haiti's transitional governing council sworn in

In Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, a ceremony to swear in a new transitional presidential council was interrupted by the sounds of heavy gunfire on Thursday. Members of the new council vowed to rein in the gang-related violence that's pushed the country to the brink of social collapse in recent months. In the face of this unprecedented crisis, the entire population has recognized the urgency and necessity of taking a firm grip on the situation to pull our country out of this spiral of despair and destruction. Outside the walls of the ceremony, gang members armed with automatic weapons exchanged gunfire with police. Armed criminals roaming the streets freely, often overpowering the police, is a scene that's become all too common in the city. At least two people were killed during the fighting on Thursday. This woman says her son was caught in the crossfire and killed. She adds that there are no safe places left in the country. He was standing in the water, he saw the police, he ran. He returned to the water when. He was shot in the leg, the police shot him many times in his stomach and back. I don't know what he did to deserve death. In the area where he grew up, everyone knew he was not a member of any gangs. International observers have applauded the successful swearing-in of the Transitional Council, some calling it a turning point for a crisis that has left more than 2,500 people dead since the start of the year. One of the first orders of business of Haiti's new Transitional Council was to name an interim prime minister, Michel-Patrick Boisvert, a former finance minister who has taken the place of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who formalized his resignation earlier in the day. The general interest should be at the center of all concerns and public decisions. And I invite all compatriots to work towards strengthening and consolidating what has been achieved to contribute to the recovery of our beloved Haiti. Though Haitian gang leaders have promised to derail the efforts of the new transitional body, council members say plans are in motion for the deployment of an international security force, led by the government of Kenya, to help restore law and order in Haiti. Manuel Rapalo, Al Jazeera.

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