Ukraine In Crisis Sent Grains To African Countries, Therefore We Should Also Help Haiti – Shehu Sani

Social activist and former federal lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has asked leaders of African countries to rise up and help the Republic of Haiti, in the ongoing crisis in the Caribbean country.

 

Senator Sani who made the call in a post on X platform on Saturday said that though African leaders might give an excuse that they have their own problems, they should however know that their problems are far less than the crisis going on in Haiti.

 

 

Senator Sani stressed that leaders of African countries must remember that war-torn Ukraine has problems, yet, the country sent grains to several African countries to assist them mitigate food shortage and food crisis ravaging the continent.

 

“It’s time for Africa to help Haiti. It appears no country is willing to help them. I know you will say we have our problems, yes we do have problems, but our problems are far less than that of Haiti. Ukraine has problems, yet they sent you grains,” Senator Sani said.

 

 

 

The socioeconomic and political crisis in Haiti has been marked by rising energy prices due to the 2022 global energy crisis, as well as protests, and civil unrest against the government of Haiti, armed gang violence, an outbreak of cholera, shortages of fuel and clean drinking water, as well as widespread acute hunger, a continuation of instability and protests that began in 2018. 

 

Violence in Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has worsened in recent years as gangs aiming to oust PM Ariel Henry control 80% of Port-au-Prince.

 

The latest upsurge in violence began on February 29 this year when the prime minister traveled to Nairobi to discuss sending a Kenyan-led multinational security force to Haiti.

 

In January, the UN said more than 8,400 people were victims of Haiti's gang violence last year, including killings, injuries and kidnappings - more than double the numbers seen in 2022.

 

Violence has been rife since President Moïse's assassination in 2021. He has not been replaced and elections have not been held since 2016.

 

Under a deal, elections were to be held and the unelected Mr Henry was due to stand down by 7 February, but that did not happen.

 

Since he left the country for Kenya, unrest in Port-au-Prince has escalated further, with gang leader Jimmy Chérizier (nicknamed "Barbecue") declaring a coordinated attack to oust the prime minister.

 

SaharaReporters earlier this month reported that armed gangs stormed the main prison in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince, releasing many inmates, as a local journalist told BBC News that the vast majority of about 4,000 men held there escaped.