A South African official told the Associated Press (AP) that former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide will return to Haiti in the coming days after seven years of exile.

The South African Foreign Ministry official told the news agency on Friday that Aristide will return to Haiti before the second round of elections set for March 20.

AP adds that the official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make the official announcement.

Update 1h27pm

In a declaration made to AFP, Maryse Narcisse, spokeswoman of the former Head of State said "I talked to him this morning, his return is imminent. I talk to him every day. Now it is a matter of days" emphasizing on "This is imminent".

Update 4h52pm

In a second statement, Maryse Narcisse declared "is an important event for people of the island [Haiti] because they have waited a long time this moment" adding "he will not travel incognito. People will know when he will be on the way."

Recall that on Feb. 25 several thousand people demonstrated through the streets of the city Capoise, demanding Aristide's return before March 20, 2010.

February 19 during a demonstration in the streets of the capital, bringing about 2,000 supporters and sympathizers, the organizers of the demonstration, had threatened, if they did not get satisfaction [the cancellation of the election on November 28 and the inclusion in the electoral process of all political parties including Fanmi Lavalas], to disrupt the second round of the presidential election on March 20, while the demonstrators chanted in Creole "Without return, there will be no second round"

February 9, the spokesman for the State Department, Philip J. Crowley said that the return of former President Aristide, before the second round of presidential elections, would be "an unfortunate distraction" and that if Aristide "returned earlier [before March 20] that could disrupt... the calm that is needed for an effective election process to conclude"

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2419-haiti-social-demonstration-in-cap-haitien-for-the-return-of-aristide.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2378-haiti-politic-fanmi-lavalas-threatens-to-disrupt-the-second-round-of-the-elections.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2313-haiti-usa-the-return-of-aristide-an-unfortunate-distraction.html

HL/ HaitiLibre