Trudeau does not rule out military intervention in Haiti

OTTAWA (CMC):

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says while he does not rule out the possibility of Canada being part of a military intervention, or even leading one in Haiti, he also wants European countries to join the North American country in sanctioning the elites in the French-speaking CARICOM country over alleged ties to violent gangs.

Speaking during a year-end interview with The Canadian Press, Trudeau noted however that Canada would seek to avoid some of its past mistakes as it responds to a request from Haiti’s Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry for a foreign military intervention.

“We’ve had a long history in Haiti and we still find ourselves, 30 years later, in a crisis as grave if not worse than the others,” Trudeau told the Canadian Press, adding “we are leading the United States, and maybe even Europe, to bring about their own sanctions, too”.

Haiti has been plunged into chaos with criminal gangs involved in kidnappings for ransom and opposition political parties staging street demonstrations calling for the government of Henry to step down. The opposition parties have also been calling for fresh presidential and legislative elections.

Henry, who took over the leadership of the country following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 7 last year, has urged the international community to send in troops to assist in maintaining law and order.

Henry has been condemning persons whom he said wanted to acquire political power in the country without first seeking a mandate from the population.

In a recent nationwide radio and television broadcast, Henry gave a commitment that the country will be in election mode before the end of 2022. But that appears unlikely to occur.

In October, Henry requested the deployment of foreign troops to fight gangs and help end a fuel blockade by criminal gangs that has since lifted. While no international troops have been deployed, the US and Canada have announced a flurry of sanctions on several prominent Haitian politicians accusing them of helping spread unrest in the French-speaking CARICOM country.