The power struggle that has largely paralyzed Haiti appeared to approach a tipping point on Wednesday as increasingly powerful gangs pushed the nation’s prime minister to resign, in order to prevent what they called the beginning of a “civil war.”
Gang leaders have attacked and seized most of the country’s capital, Port-Au-Prince, over the last week. Heavily armed gang members laid siege to the airport, government buildings and prisons — including the nation’s largest penitentiary, enabling thousands of inmates to escape. Schools and businesses shut down, while tens of thousands of people fled the violence.
The current impasse began after Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who has had Canada’s support since