OAS schedules meeting to address Haitian crisis

The Organization of American States (OAS) confirmed it will hold a special meeting tonight at the institution’s headquarters in Washington, focused on the socioeconomic situation in Haiti.

Even though the OAS has not given further details about what will be discussed, the meeting takes place in a context of high expectations and equally high skepticism regarding the possibility of foreign military intervention in the Caribbean nation, similar to the mission that took place between 2004 and 2017 led by the Brazilian Army. 

As The Brazilian Report has explained, a second intervention is supported by the U.S. and even the UN Secretary-General, but has critics in the global community such as China and Russia, who would prefer to offer humanitarian help only.

The idea is being floated once again due to the current context in the Caribbean nation, which has been described as a “humanitarian catastrophe,” combining long-lasting poverty, gang violence, basic product shortages, recent natural disasters, and even another uncontrolled cholera outbreak. 

Things have gone from bad to worse for Haitians since the assassination of then-President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Still unsolved, the crime created a power vacuum that remains until today.

Mr. Moïse was controversially replaced by Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who has been under pressure to call for new elections ever since. Haiti has not had a single democratically elected official since January, when senators’ terms expired.

The first hints at a possible solution to the political crisis came this week with the appointment of a transition council responsible for developing a feasible electoral timetable.

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