The crisis-ridden country of Haiti is grappling with chaos and violence as authorities battle armed gangs for control. The transitional council has nominated Fritz Belizaire as the new prime minister in an attempt to stabilize the situation. Belizaire, a former sports minister, faces a daunting task as he takes over from interim prime minister Michel Patrick Boisvert. The council is also responsible for appointing a cabinet and an electoral council to pave the way for Haiti’s first general elections since 2016. However, internal squabbles within the council have delayed the process and threaten to dissolve the council.
The appointment of Belizaire as prime minister was supported by four of the seven voting members, while others expressed unfamiliarity with him. The violence plaguing Haiti was evident during the council meeting, with gunfire heard across the capital Port-au-Prince. Gangs have taken control of many areas after the release of 4,000 inmates in raids on the country’s two biggest prisons. More than 2,500 people were killed or injured from January to March, and nearly 95,000 people have fled Port-au-Prince, struggling to find food and healthcare with closed ports and airport.
Political stability in Haiti remains elusive, as the country has not held elections for eight years and has been without a president since the assassination of Jovenel Moise in 2021. Former Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned after armed gangs demanded his removal following a coordinated attack in February. The transitional council, acting as the country’s presidency, will need to arrange an election by February 2026. The announcement of Belizaire as the new prime minister was met with surprise and resistance, as some members of the council viewed it as a backroom deal that went against the interests of the Haitian people.
The Montana Accord, a civil society group, criticized the appointment of Belizaire as a “conspiracy” that was hatched in secret against the Haitian people. The next challenge for the transitional council will be to decide on supporting a UN-backed deployment of a Kenyan police force to help fight the gangs. However, it remains unclear when this deployment might occur. The situation in Haiti remains dire, with ongoing violence, chaos, and instability threatening the well-being of the population. The new prime minister faces significant challenges in restoring order and implementing necessary reforms to address the country’s deep-rooted issues.
