As the country faces a spike in killings and kidnappings while preparing for an upcoming constitutional referendum and a general election later this year, the Prime Minister of Haiti Joseph Jouthe announced early Wednesday about his resignation.

The Haitian Prime Minister served the country for more than a year but he did not provide an explanation regarding his resignation. But after Jouthe stepped down, Haiti President Jovenel Mosie shared that there is already a new prime minister appointed.

According to Aljazeera, Haitian President Jovenel Mosie mentioned in his post on Twitter that he accepted the resignation of Jouthe in order to open the possibility of addressing the problem of insecurity and continue discussions with a view to reaching the consensus. He emphasized that it is necessary for the political and institutional stability of Haiti.

President Mosie also mentioned that Minister Claude Joseph has been appointed as the latest Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, it is not the first time that Jouthe attempted to step down in his position as he previously submitted his resignation also to Moise. Mosie rejected the previous request, but this time, he accepted it.

Haiti is currently considered the poorest country in the Americas. Before experiencing the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the country has been plagued already by poverty, insecurity, and natural disaster.

Kidnappings Rise

In addition, 'kidnap for ransom' has surged in Haiti as armed gangs have gained influence in the country. The Caribbean country continues to struggle due to the ongoing political crisis. The recent abduction in Croix-des-Bouquets of seven members of the Catholic clergy triggered nationwide anger on Sunday.

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The abducted individuals include five Haitian members of the clergy, alongside two French citizens, consists of a priest and a nun. The Catholic Church of Haiti slammed the government on Monday for failure to act immediately over the abduction. The religious group demanded the government with stinging comments decrying Haiti's descent into hell.

Furthermore, protests have erupted in the country over the security situation and the mandate of Moise. For civil society groups and legal experts stated that it ended on February 7. But Moise has remained firm that his five-year presidency is extended until next year, Voice of America reported.

The disagreement in the country stemmed after an election won by Moise in November of 2015 was later on considered fraud. But, a year later, he was re-elected, which created confusion for the people of Haiti.

On the other hand, according to Human Rights Watch, legislative elections were postponed indefinitely in October 2019, which left the country without a parliament since January 2020.

But in the middle of the struggling stability of the country, he stated that he plans to hold a constitutional referendum in June, which critics call part of a larger effort to consolidate power.

In the last six years, Haiti had a high turnover of prime ministers, as eight of them were already appointed to the position since 2015, France 24 reported.

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