Haiti's ruling presidential council has dismissed Prime Minister Garry Conille just six months into his tenure and appointed businessman Didier Fils-Aimé as his replacement. The decision has sparked controversy within the country's political circles, with critics questioning its legality.
The council, a nine-member body overseeing the country's transition after the resignation of Ariel Henry, signed an executive order on Sunday to remove Conille, which was leaked before being published in the country's official gazette on Monday.
Fils-Aimé, a former president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Haiti, was abroad and returned to the country early Sunday morning after his name was floated as a potential successor, as reported by the Miami Herald. His swearing-in could occur as soon as Monday, potentially leading to a situation where Haiti has two prime ministers if Conille refuses to step down.
Conille, who previously served as prime minister in 2012 before being ousted by then-President Michel Martelly, challenged the move. In a letter to the director of the national press, Conille argued that only the government has the authority to publish official acts, calling the council's decision "illegal."
The presidential council's authority has been a point of contention. Under Haiti's constitution, only the parliament can dismiss a prime minister. However, the country is currently in a constitutional crisis with no functioning parliament and no elected leader. Some see the council's actions as part of the broader power struggle that has paralyzed the government for months.
Conille's appointment in May had been part of an effort to stabilize the country. Since then, he and the council have struggled to agree on key issues, including the reshuffling of the cabinet and the removal of council members involved in a bribery scandal. As Haiti faces escalating gang violence and a deepening humanitarian crisis, the political deadlock has only worsened, leading to public discontent with a body that was supposed to help pave the way for presidential elections in 2026, the first in 10 years.
At the international level, the United States and the Caribbean community have expressed concerns over the growing political instability, with some groups showing support for Conille. The situation on the ground remains dramatic, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced and the few hundred international forces unable to help local police defeat powerful gangs. The U.S. also failed in its attempt to turn the international effort into a formal UN peacekeeping mission, dealing another blow to the initiative.
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