The Americas | The first small steps

Haiti’s transitional government must take office amid gang warfare

Only after it is installed can an international security force be deployed to the country

Agents of the Haitian National Police in Port Au Prince, Haiti.
The waiting gamePhotograph: EPA
|MEXICO CITY and PORT-AU-PRINCE

One month ago Haiti’s prime minister, Ariel Henry, despised at home and stranded abroad, agreed to hand over power to a “transitional presidential council”. It was to be formed according to a plan drawn up by Caricom, the 15-member Caribbean community, and other powers including the United States. On April 7th the nine-member council finally submitted a political agreement to Mr Henry for approval. His vestigial government’s assent will let the violence-racked country move forward. As The Economist went to press, that had not yet happened. Only once it does, and a decree is published in Haiti’s official gazette, Le Moniteur, can the council finally start work.

This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline “The first small steps”

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