In Haiti, the government's announcement of a political transition plan will do little to improve the deteriorating security situation in the country, and if U.N.-backed troops are deployed to contain the escalating gang activity, it will likely only cause a spike in violence and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Haiti. On March 11, after an urgent meeting called by Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, Prime Minister Ariel Henry said in a pre-recorded video that he would step down from office once a presidential transition council was established. The move comes as gang violence has spread throughout the capital city Port-au-Prince, prompting the United States to deploy marines to the U.S. embassy to airlift non-essential staff out of Haiti on March 10. Gang violence has intensified dramatically since Feb. 29, as gang leader Jimmy Cherizier continues to threaten to escalate the conflict into a civil war. On March 3, coordinated attacks on...
