Haiti: Residents Concerned as Coup Leader Guy Philippe's Supporters Launch Widespread Protests

The Haiti Crisis may have grown even more complicated as supporters of the captured coup leader, Guy Philippe, have launched mass protests all over the struggling country in support of their leader.

Several cities across the Caribbean country have been paralyzed by these protests as the supporters of the former rebel leader demand Prime Minister Ariel Henry, the de facto leader of Haiti's government, after President Jovenel Moise's assassination.

The Associated Press reported that Guy Philippe's supporters forced several schools, government agencies, and private businesses to close down in several cities outside of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The affected cities include the southern cities of Jeremie and Miragoane, as well as the northern city of Ouanaminthe, along the Dominican Republic-Haiti border.

In the southern Haiti city of Les Cayes, hundreds of protesters gathered, with more demonstrations also expected to happen in the coming days as the country continues with its growing number of problems, from violent street gangs taking over the capital to civil unrest all over.

Guy Philippe was initially imprisoned in the US following his coup attempt. After several years, the US extradited him back to Haiti. With the country in turmoil, he is gaining many supporters as poverty deepened and gang violence continued to plague the nation.

"My revolution is for the people, for the people only," he said in an address to his supporters and the Haiti National Police. "I'm asking police to do their job, to protect the people."

He also promised his supporters that "the suffering is going to be over pretty soon."

Haiti Coup Leader Guy Philippe Extradited To Haiti After Serving Drug Charges in US

The presence of the Haiti coup leader certainly complicated things even further in Haiti, even though he remains under arrest over his failed coup attempt in 2004 against then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

A former police officer, senator, and coup plotter, he was arrested and jailed in the United States after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to launder money from drug trafficking, being linked to the drug trade from the late 1990s and the early 2000s. After he served his time in prison, he was deported back to Haiti, where he was immediately arrested again.

InSight Crime Analysis noted that "Philippe could take advantage of his political, economic, and police connections to insert himself in the presidential race and mitigate the impact of gang violence through institutional measures."

Who Is Haiti Coup Leader Guy Philippe?

When he was still the commander of Haiti's police force, Guy Philippe led a rebellion in 2004 that led to the overthrow of President Jean Bertrand Aristide. He gained popularity back in Haiti, even becoming a senator, but was then linked to drug trafficking in the United States.

According to the Miami Herald, Philippe's deportation was the latest in a series of deportations by the Biden administration. The move was considered controversial as Philippe's presence in the country could complicate things further.

READ MORE: Haiti Crisis Explained: How Did It Get This Bad?

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Former Haitian Police Commander Sentenced To Prison - CBS Miami