Haiti’s PM Ariel Henry Escapes ‘Assassination Attempt’

The Prime Minister of Haiti, Ariel Henry, on Monday, disclosed that he escaped an assassination attempt during weekend national day celebrations.

Henry who has been running the country since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, said, “An attempt has been made against me personally. My life has been put in the crosshairs.”

It was gathered that police and armed groups clashed on Saturday during the celebrations in the city of Gonaives, some 150 kilometres (90 miles) north of the capital Port-au-Prince, where Haiti’s declaration of independence was signed over 200 years ago.

The Prime Minister was attacked weeks after members of armed gangs in Gonaives violently expressed their opposition to Henry’s visiting their city.

Henry in an interview with AFP said, “I knew I was taking a risk.

“We cannot let bandits from any background, driven by the lowest financial interests, blackmail the state.”

Recall that the President of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated by a commando on the night of July 6 to July 7, 2021.

The president’s wife was injured in the attack which took place at around 1 local time (7 a.m. French time) and hospitalized.