HTH -- Haiti Earthquake

March 18, 2011. Former President Aristide returning to Haiti as country gears up for elections

SOURCE: Altegrity Risk International

Haiti's former President Jean Bertrand Aristide left South Africa on March 17th to return home ahead of presidential elections scheduled to take place on March 20th. Aristide has been living in exile in South Africa since fleeing a violent uprising in Haiti in 2004. Aristide continues to enjoy broad support by Haiti's poorest working classes and has been elected president three times. The U.S. earlier appealed to Aristide to postpone his return to Haiti until after the electoral process was completed.

Thousands of Haitians are expected to throng the airport to greet the chartered jet carrying Aristide. There is a heightened risk of unrest and violence over the weekend as election periods typically involve conflict.