December 23, 2024
During the press conference following the CARICOM 47th Ordinary Meeting from July 27 to 30 in Grenada, Edgard Leblanc Fils thanked the countries of the region for their role in restoring “stability” in Haiti. According to him, life is returning to normal thanks to operations carried out by the national police and the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission led by Kenya, which have regained control of the general hospital. These statements were quickly deemed irresponsible by local observers and completely disapproved of by armed groups.
Indeed, a few days later, on Sunday, August 4, the 400 Mawozo group, led by “Lanmò 100 jou,” responded violently by setting fire to a Haitian National Police (HNP) armored vehicle and a General Customs Administration checkpoint in Ganthier. This harsh response demonstrates the ineffectiveness of police and MSS actions and highlights Leblanc Fils’ disconnect from the reality on the ground. Despite his optimistic claims, the southern region of Haiti remains cut off from the rest of the country due to blockades at Martissant and Village de Dieu, rendering his leadership as president of the Transitional Presidential Council highly questionable.
Political figures such as Himmler Rébu, representative of GREH, have publicly distanced themselves from Leblanc Fils’ statements, questioning his ability to lead. The operations of the HNP and the MSS mission to dislodge the bandits and reclaim territories remain ineffective, despite the state of emergency declared by Prime Minister Garry Conille. The 14 communes affected by this measure are still under gang control, and recent incidents, such as the injury of a Kenyan soldier and the attack on Garry Conille’s convoy, underscore the gravity of the situation.
In summary, Leblanc Fils’ remarks during the conference following the CARICOM summit do not reflect the disastrous reality Haiti is facing. His optimistic vision seems not only disconnected but also risks undermining the confidence of the population and international partners in his ability to effectively lead the country towards stability and security.