Dennis Bruce Hankins, newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, has arrived in Haiti to begin his diplomatic tenure amid raging gang violence and an already collapsed government.
Appointed by President Joe Biden, Hankins is taking on the role which has been vacant since 2021.
Following the recent resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, Haskins will assist in the transition to a nine-member Transitional Presidential Council.
"It is an honor to return to Haiti, a place I hold dear, as Ambassador. I understand that these are challenging times for the Haitian people. They deserve elected officials who are accountable to them," Ambassador Hankins expressed in a U.S. Embassy release.
Now heading the American mission in Haiti, Hankins brings extensive experience with him, having served in various countries since 1984, including Haiti, reported Haitian Times.
With no elected president and against a backdrop of extreme civil unrest in Port-au-Prince, Haskins is facing tough challenges amid escalating violence in the capital and the coordinated gang attacks targeting civilians, businesses, law enforcement, and state institutions.
To solidify the transition to a nine-member Transitional Presidential Council, political parties had called for Henry's resignation, and after a month of negotiations led by the Regional Caribbean Community (Caricom), a list of council members has been confirmed and will soon govern the country.
In a letter dated March 28, Caricom urged the outgoing government of Henry to facilitate the "immediate installation" of the Transitional Presidential Council.
"Haiti deserves peace, security, and prosperity. I am dedicated to being a humble partner to the Haitian people during this time of crisis and as we journey towards a future of democracy, stability, prosperity, and peace," Hankins said, expressing his commitment to working with his team at the U.S. Embassy, colleagues in Washington, D.C., and Haitian stakeholders to address the nation's challenges.
