PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haiti on Thursday announced an interim council tasked with electing a new prime minister and preparing for an eventual presidential election in hopes of quelling spiraling gang violence that has left thousands dead. The establishment of the association marked the beginning of a new political era. Caribbean country.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who has been locked out of the country for the past few months due to violence, announced his resignation in a letter signed in Los Angeles, paving the way for a transition.
The document was released Thursday, the same day Haiti's new transitional council was sworn in to select a new prime minister and cabinet. In the meantime, Henry's cabinet elected Economy and Finance Minister Michel-Patrick Boisvert as interim prime minister. It is not immediately clear when the transitional council will appoint its own interim prime minister.
The council was formally sworn in early Thursday morning at the National Palace in downtown Port-au-Prince, but some officials looked around the room as sporadic gunshots rang out nearby. The council had been asked to find a safer venue due to daily gang attacks in the area.
Boisvert spoke hours later in a crowded, sweaty room in the prime minister's office in Pétion Ville, saying Haiti's crisis had dragged on for too long and the country was now at a crossroads. Members of the Transitional Council stood behind him, and in front of him were the country's top police and military officials, ambassadors and prominent politicians.
“After many months of long discussions…a solution has been found,” Boisvert said. “Today is an important day for our dear republic.”
Mr. Boisvert addressed the transitional council, calling it “Haitian's solution,” and wished it success, saying, “You will lead this country to peace, economic and social restoration, and a sacred union.” , and lead to participation,” he added.
After the speeches, the clinking of glasses echoed throughout the room as attendees toasted with champagne flutes and a somber “To Haiti.”
The council was established early Thursday, more than a month after Caribbean leaders announced its creation after an emergency meeting to address Haiti's deepening crisis. Gunshots were heard during the swearing-in at the Capitol, sparking uneasy expressions.
The nine-member council, seven of whom have voting rights, is expected to help set the new cabinet's agenda. It also plans to appoint a transitional election commission and establish a national security council, which is a prerequisite before elections are held.
The council's non-renewable mandate expires on February 7, 2026, and a new president is scheduled to take office on that date.
The city councilor is Emmanuel Bertilaire, a member of the Petit Dessalines party led by former senator and presidential candidate Jean-Charles Moïse. Smith Augustine of EDE/RED, the political party led by former Prime Minister Claude Joseph. Fritz Alphonse Jean, a group of civil society leaders and political parties supporting the Montana Accord. Leslie Voltaire of former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide's party Funmi Lavalas. Louis-Gerard Gilles will be in the Dec. 21 coalition that supports former Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Edgard Leblanc is a member of the “January 30 Collective,'' which represents political parties including former president Michel Martelly. and Laurent Saint-Cyr from the private sector.
The two unvoted seats went to pastor Frinell Joseph and former World Bank and Haitian government official Regine Abraham.
Augustin, one of the council's voting members, said it was unclear whether the council would retain Boisvert as interim prime minister or choose another prime minister. He said that would be discussed in the coming days. “The crisis is unsustainable,” he said.
Abraham, a non-voting lawmaker, recalled the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, explaining that “that violence had a devastating impact.”
Abraham said gangs now control much of Port-au-Prince, with tens of thousands of the capital's residents forced to flee their homes and more than 900 schools in the capital forced to close.
“The people of Port-au-Prince were literally held hostage,” she said.
The gangs began carrying out coordinated attacks in the capital Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas on February 29th. They burned down police stations and hospitals, opened fire on the main international airport, which has remained closed since early March, and stormed Haiti's two largest prisons, freeing more than 4,000 prisoners. The gangs also cut off access to Haiti's largest port.
The onslaught began during Henry's official visit to Kenya to promote the deployment of UN-backed police from the East African country.
In his resignation letter, Henry said Haiti would be reborn. “We served our nation in difficult times,” he wrote. “We sympathize with the loss and suffering endured by our compatriots during this period.”
He remains barred from Haiti.
“Port-au-Prince is currently under near-total blockade with air, sea and land blockades,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said earlier this week.
The international community urges the Council to prioritize the prevailing security situation in Haiti. Gangs already controlled 80% of Port-au-Prince before the attacks began. More than 2,500 people were killed or injured from January to March, an increase of more than 50% compared to the same period last year, according to a recent United Nations report.
“The rise in gang activity, the deterioration of the human rights situation and the deepening humanitarian crisis across Port-au-Prince and elsewhere cannot be overstated,” said Maria Isabel Salvador, the UN special envoy to Haiti. United Nations Security Council on Monday.
On Thursday, some Haitians said they did not know the country had a new prime minister and a transitional council was in place. Some cautiously celebrated the new leader.
“We don't ask for much. We just want to move around freely,” said Gismet Obouboul, owner of a dusty convenience store.
As for Boisvert, he said: “I don't know him personally, but as long as he does what he has to do and keeps the country safe, that's all that matters.”
Boisvert's swearing-in on Thursday was also attended by newly sworn-in U.S. Ambassador Dennis Hankins. He said Thursday's events were an important step for Haiti.
“Even in times of crisis, Haitians can do great things and we are here to help them,” Hankins said. “We may not find the solution, but we hope to help others find the solution.”
As part of that, he said, the U.S. government is working to tighten controls on the export of arms, many of which are entering Haiti and fueling violence.
“The fact that a lot of the weapons that come here come from the United States is indisputable, and that has a direct impact,” Hankins said. “We recognize that as contributing to instability.”
Nearly 100,000 people have fled the capital in search of safer cities and towns since the attacks began. Tens of thousands of others whose homes were torched by gangs and left homeless are now living in crowded makeshift shelters across Port-au-Prince with only one or two toilets for each of the hundreds of residents.
Haiti is suffering from a security, political and humanitarian crisis that is causing severe food insecurity for some 5 million people, about half the population, World Food Program Deputy Director Karl Skow told the United Nations on Thursday. said. The United Nations defines this as “a situation where life or livelihood is in immediate danger due to the inability to consume adequate food.”
“The situation is dramatic,” Skau told reporters. “A devastating crisis, massive humanitarian impact, and the worst humanitarian situation in Haiti since the 2010 earthquake.”
“Even though I'm physically here, I feel like I'm dead,” said Rachel Pierre, a 39-year-old mother of four living in one of the capital's temporary shelters.
“We don't have food, we don't have water. Sometimes we don't have anything to give to our children,” she said as her 14-month-old son sucked on his deflated breast.
Many Haitians are angry and exhausted by the way their lives have turned out and blame gangs for their situation.
“They are the ones who sent us here,” said Chesnel Joseph, a 46-year-old math teacher who became the unofficial director of the shelter after the school was closed due to the violence. “They're abusing us. They're killing us. They're burning down our houses.”
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