Haitian Prime Minister Removed from Office After Less Than Six Months

The ruling council of Haiti has dismissed Prime Minister Garry Conille, who had been in his position for under six months. An executive order, endorsed by eight of the nine council members, designated Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, a businessman and former candidate for the Haitian Senate, as the successor to Mr. Conille. Mr. Conille, previously a United Nations official, had been appointed to guide Haiti amidst a persistent security crisis driven by gangs and was anticipated to facilitate the nation’s initial presidential elections since 2016. He characterized his removal as unlawful, stating in a letter, which was reviewed by Reuters news agency, that it generated “serious concerns” regarding Haiti’s future. Currently, Haiti lacks both a president and a parliament. The country’s constitution stipulates that only the parliament possesses the authority to remove an incumbent prime minister. Conille’s letter reportedly stated, “This resolution, taken outside any legal and constitutional framework, raises serious concerns about its legitimacy.” The transitional presidential council (TPC) of Haiti was established in April following the removal of Ariel Henry, Mr. Conille’s predecessor, by a coalition of gangs that had seized control of areas within the capital, Port-au-Prince. Mr. Henry departed Haiti to participate in a summit in Guyana on 25 February 2024. Subsequently, gang members took control of the city’s international airport, thereby preventing his return. The TPC’s mandate included re-establishing democratic governance in the Caribbean nation, which is plagued by widespread violence. The UN reports that over 3,600 individuals have been killed in Haiti since January, and more than 500,000 have been displaced from their residences. The UN also characterizes Haiti as among the world’s most impoverished countries. Data from the UN indicates that two million Haitians are presently experiencing emergency levels of hunger, with nearly half of the population reportedly “do not have enough to eat.” Jimmy Chérizier, identified as one of Haiti’s most influential gang leaders and known as Barbecue, had previously indicated a willingness to cease the violence if armed factions were permitted to participate in discussions aimed at forming a new government. The last presidential elections in Haiti occurred eight years prior, resulting in the election of Jovenel Moïse from the Tèt Kale party. The presidential office has remained unoccupied since his assassination in July 2021. Haitian gangs have exploited this power vacuum, extending their dominion across significant portions of the nation, which in some areas has become effectively lawless. Reports from last month indicated that hundreds of police officers were deployed to Haiti from Kenya, with additional personnel expected to arrive in November.