Threat of violence in Haiti will remain without rethinking of political accountability

Plan for transitional council to rule after prime minister’s resignation brings strong sense of deja vu

The announcement of a new transitional council to rule Haiti, as prime minister Ariel Henry announced his resignation amid a violent gang uprising, has brought a strong sense of deja vu.

Those tipped for seats on the council are familiar figures associated with political parties and coalitions which have been key players in the country’s long-running crisis of political legitimacy. Even the decision to include representatives of Haiti’s tiny, oligarchic business elite is a reminder that though things change, they remain the same.