The Senate has confirmed Dennis B. Hankins as U.S. ambassador to Haiti as the country faces a brutal campaign of domination by violent gangs.
An 89-1 vote confirmed Hankins’ appointment. Mr Hankins is a long-time senior foreign service official, having previously served as ambassador to Mali and before that to Guinea.
The only vote against Hankins’ confirmation was Sen. John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), who told Fox News Digital that his nomination will be blocked until President Biden changes his energy policy. He said he intended to do so.
Dennis B. Hankins, then U.S. Ambassador to Mali, pictured in Bamako, Mali, on December 7, 2021. (Annie Reisenberg/AFP via Getty Images)
“Until Mr. Biden stops fighting America’s energy, we will block any nominee he puts in the Department of State or the Department of Energy,” Kennedy said. “Like the Terminator, I have come back again and again to thwart his candidates and how he is intentionally killing jobs and threatening national security to appease deranged climate change extremists. to remind the world.”
Schumer calls for new Israeli leader to replace Netanyahu in Senate floor speech
Meanwhile, Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced on Tuesday that he intends to resign, but not until an interim presidential council is established, tasked with naming an interim prime minister.
Pedestrians and commuters fill the streets of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Oderin Joseph)
Henry’s decision comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Caribbean officials move to nearby Jamaica to deal with incidents occurring in Haiti, where gangs are targeting police stations, prisons and the country’s main airport. This was done just hours after the meeting.
U.S. Southern Command told Fox News that a specialized Marine Corps counterterrorism unit arrived in Haiti on Thursday to help protect the U.S. embassy and evacuate personnel.
The mission to install an interim president in Haiti hit a major hurdle Wednesday as some of the country’s political parties rejected plans for an interim presidential council. According to the Associated Press, former senator and presidential candidate Moïse Jean-Charles insisted he would not participate. Jean-Charles is reportedly working with former rebel leader Guy Philippe.
Johnson says House will “put all pressure” on Senate to pass TikTok bill
Louis-Jodelle Chamblin (left) and Guy Philippe (right). (Copyright 2004 Associated Press)
Unrest in Haiti is causing disagreements between U.S. lawmakers and President Biden’s administration
Blinken announced on Monday that he would donate $300 million to the Kenya-led multinational security mission to Haiti.
Ilhan Omar says she will vote for Biden ‘of course’ after warning Biden that Muslim vote is losing to Israel
But House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho) pose hurdles for the administration.
Michael McCall, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee
“After years of discussion, repeated requests for information and partial funding to develop a plan, the government has finally sent us a rough plan to deal with this crisis this afternoon. “It remains to be seen whether it is ‘reliable and workable’,” they said. said in a joint statement to NatSec Daily. “Given the long history of U.S. involvement in Haiti with little success, the administration has an obligation to Congress to provide more timely details before receiving more funding.” .”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The most powerful gang in Haiti seeking to seize power is known as the G9 Family and Allies. It is led by 46-year-old Jimmy Sheridier, who is known as “Barbecue.” Before becoming a gang leader, Chéridier was an employee of the Haitian National Police.
Chérisier, whose dark past earned him the nickname “Barbecue” for orchestrating the La Saline massacre in 2018 that killed 71 people and destroyed 400 homes, He said his nickname came from his mother’s time selling fried chicken at a street stall, according to the Associated Press. report.
