Haiti's Transition Council Picks New Prime Minister

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Facts

  • The nine-member Transitional Presidential Council of Haiti on Tuesday selected former prime minister Garry Conille to return to that post in the midst of gang violence that has sparked a political and humanitarian crisis since February.1
  • Conille, who has 25 years of experience at the UN and the Red Cross, last served as the regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean at UNICEF. He also served for four months as Haiti's prime minister in 2011.2
  • The council voted 6-1 to appoint Conille, who is now tasked with stabilizing the country before the February 2026 elections. Haiti has not had a president since 2021, with Edgard Leblanc wielding that de facto power on the council.3
  • The regional Caribbean Community (CARICOM) created the council after the resignation of Ariel Henry as prime minister in March, as gangs seized up to 80% of Port-au-Prince and the conflict left 1.5K dead and 326K displaced.4
  • Former sports minister Fritz Bélizaire was initially selected to replace interim Prime Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert in April before critics of the council's process lobbied for a new search. The council must select a cabinet before next year.5
  • Conille, in a post to X, formerly Twitter, wrote he's 'very honored' by the council's decision. The island nation is currently awaiting the deployment of UN-backed Kenyan security forces to help restore order to Haiti.3

Sources: 1CNN, 2New York Times, 3reuters.com, 4Al Jazeera and 5Associated Press.

Narratives

  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by New York Times. The world community must support democracy, let Haiti chart its own path, and allow the council to govern. When the outside world, particularly the US, intervenes, Haiti has a history of being ruled by corrupt individuals. Hopefully, an independent and strong Haiti can emerge from this turmoil.
  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Washington Post. Haiti needs US support on the ground because the government is outmanned and outgunned by violent criminal gangs, making a Haiti-led recovery a pipe dream. Famine, death, and a refugee crisis are looming if the hemisphere's superpower doesn't restore order and back the transitional government, buying time for UN security forces.

Predictions