Haiti's Prime Minister, Garry Conille, has been dismissed from his post by the country's ruling council after just six months in office. The decision came following an executive order signed by eight of the nine members of the council, which has named businessman and former Senate candidate Alix Didier Fils-Aime as Conille’s successor.
Conille, who previously served as a United Nations official, was appointed to lead Haiti amid an escalating security crisis, largely driven by violent gangs. His tenure had been seen as pivotal in efforts to stabilize the country and organize its first presidential elections since 2016.
In a letter obtained by Reuters, Conille described his removal as unlawful, raising "serious concerns" about the future of the nation. His ousting marks a significant political shift in Haiti, already grappling with economic turmoil and widespread insecurity.
Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille has been dismissed from his position after less than six months in office. Conille, who was sworn in on June 3, was replaced by businessman and former Senate candidate Alix Didier Fils-Aime, following a decision made by eight of the nine members of Haiti's transitional presidential council (TPC).
In a letter seen by Reuters, Conille strongly criticized his removal, stating, "This resolution, taken outside any legal and constitutional framework, raises serious concerns about its legitimacy." The decision marks a major shift in Haiti’s leadership during a time of political instability and escalating violence.
The TPC was formed in April after Conille’s predecessor, Ariel Henry, was ousted by powerful gangs that had seized control of large areas of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Conille’s brief tenure had been focused on addressing the ongoing security crisis and paving the way for elections, which have been delayed for years due to the country’s turmoil.
Haiti continues to be mired in violence and instability as gang leaders and rebels vie for control of the country, which has been plunged into chaos since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. The latest escalation occurred when Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who left Haiti to attend a summit in Guyana on February 25, 2024, was unable to return after gang members seized control of the capital’s international airport.
The Transitional Presidential Council (TPC), established to restore order and guide the country back to democracy, is struggling to address the widespread violence. According to the United Nations, over 3,600 people have been killed in Haiti since January, and more than 500,000 have been displaced from their homes. Haiti, already one of the poorest nations in the world, is facing dire humanitarian conditions, with two million people in urgent need of food assistance. Nearly half of the population is currently experiencing hunger, the UN reports.
Amid the turmoil, one of Haiti's most notorious gang leaders, Jimmy Chérizier, also known as "Barbecue," has offered to halt violence if armed groups are included in talks to form a new government. Chérizier's gangs have been instrumental in the power vacuum left by Moïse’s assassination, expanding their control over large parts of the country, where lawlessness now prevails.
Haiti's last presidential election was held eight years ago, when Moïse was elected. Since his murder in July 2021, the presidency has remained vacant, and the country’s governance has remained fractured. In response to the worsening crisis, the UN recently deployed hundreds of police officers from Kenya, with more set to join the mission in November. However, the ongoing violence and lack of a stable government continue to undermine efforts for peace and recovery.
(Source: BBC)
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