Regine Abraham, a non-voting member of the council, expressed gratitude to Haiti's security forces and international mediators, saying the council was working on security, national consultations on constitutional reform, election preparations, the judicial system and He said he would focus on rebuilding the economy.
“We are witnessing a complete collapse of the system and failure of the government,” she said.
Residents of Port-au-Prince were “literally held hostage,” she added. “In the face of this unprecedented crisis, all our people have recognized the urgent need for a firm hand to pull us out of this spiral of despair and destruction.”
UNICEF chief says situation in Haiti is approaching Mad Max chaos
UNICEF chief says situation in Haiti is approaching Mad Max chaos
Even as Congress was being sworn in, local media reported arson and shootings at homes in the capital's downtown and Delmas neighborhoods, with images of columns of gray smoke rising above the skyline and people carrying belongings in the streets. It posted a video of a family leaving the area.
Armed groups, mostly equipped with weapons trafficked from the United States, have been tightening their grip on the capital for years and have been trying to overthrow Henry. They have called for a broader “revolution” since he promised to resign last month.
Earlier this week, gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier warned members of the transition council to “brace yourselves.”
In an unverified audio recording that circulated on social media over the weekend, Chéridier appears to order soldiers to indiscriminately burn down houses in Lower Delmas, the impoverished area of the capital where he grew up.
Boisvert and other members of the transition council were flanked by senior police and military officials during the ceremony, which was held under tight security at the prime minister's residence in Villa d'Acuille.
Mr Henry announced last month that he would step down once the council was formed, and although he was originally expected to do so within days, it was postponed after disagreements over who would sit on the council.
Henry left Haiti in late February to seek support for its poorly armed police force, but was stuck in Puerto Rico amid fears that gangs could take over the capital completely. Mr. Boisvert served as acting Prime Minister in Henry's absence.
The term of the caretaker government will expire in February 2026, when elections are scheduled, and it cannot be renewed. No date has been set for the appointment of a new prime minister or speaker of parliament.
Diego da Rin, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, warned of a “long and difficult road ahead” with tensions rising within the council as different factions vie for power.
Local group Together Against Corruption (ECC) published a letter calling on the new authority to ensure financial transparency to “demonstrate its intention to help build a government that breaks with the past”.
The creation of the council is seen as an important step towards rolling out the multinational security mission that Henry called for in 2022 and the United Nations approved more than six months ago.
Kenya offered to lead the mission, but plans were put on hold last month until a new Haitian government was formed.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on the new authorities to quickly introduce new governance structures to enable the mission's deployment. The mission received less cash and troops than the UN needs.
The United Nations estimates that gang violence killed or injured more than 2,500 people between January and March, leaving hundreds of thousands internally displaced and millions facing crippling hunger. .
Foreign diplomats hailed the ceremony as an important step towards restoring security, and Kenyan President William Ruto said Kenya was “ready and ready” to work with its partners to “quickly implement security support infrastructure”. , he said he was “delighted.”
“Kenya pledges its full support to the Haitian Transitional Presidential Council as it guides the country through this complex interregnum,” Ruto told X.
The council members installed were the same as those announced last week. The seven voters are all male and include representatives of various political parties, former diplomats, lawyers and businessmen. The two non-voting observers were a pastor and a former government official. Advisor.
