Wyclef Jean has stepped down as leader of the embattled aid group he founded as he prepares to formally declare his candidacy for the president of Haiti.
The singer released a statement that he was resigning the chairmanship of Yele Haiti effective immediately Thursday.
The Haitian-born, Brooklyn-raised singer is expected to officially file his election papers Thursday afternoon at the provisional electoral council in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince.
The 40-year-old Jean said by running for president "my focus on helping Haiti turn a new corner will only grow stronger."
Yele came under criticism for alleged improprieties including that it paid Jean to perform at fundraising events and bought air time from a television station he co-owns.
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