Wyclef Jean, the former Fugees singer, formally announce his candidacy for president of Haiti yesturday. In the eight months since Haiti's devastating earthquakes, Jean has become a high-profile spokesman for the country.
In 2007, Haitian president René Préval named Wyclef Jean the country's ambassador-at-large, after his help in a 2006 election campaign. Préval is not permitted to run for a third consecutive term as president. Instead, Jean's likely rivals include former mayors, prime ministers and Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly, another Haitian musical star. Perhaps the most formidable opponent is Jean's uncle, Raymond Joseph, Haiti's ambassador to the United States, who has already announced that he is running.