A transitionary council in Haiti has ousted Prime Minister Garry Conille from his position after just six months in office, appointing businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aimé as his replacement. This move comes amidst a backdrop of deep political unrest and violence that has plagued the country throughout the year.
Fils-Aimé, the former president of Haiti's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was initially considered for the prime minister role earlier this year but lost out to Conille, who assumed office in June. However, Conille quickly found himself at odds with the transitionary council, which was formed in April to restore stability following a period of gang violence that gripped the capital, Port Au Prince, in March.
Notably, three members of the council were implicated in a corruption scandal, accused of demanding bribes totaling $750,000 from a bank director in exchange for securing his appointment. Despite these allegations, the council members involved in the scandal were among those who signed the decree removing Conille from office.
The security situation in Haiti has continued to deteriorate, with over 700,000 Haitians now internally displaced. The Multinational Security Support Mission, which has been assisting the Haitian police, remains under-resourced. Gang violence, previously concentrated in Port-au-Prince, has now spread beyond the city limits under the banner of an alliance of well-armed gangs known as Viv Ansanm, leading to a surge in brutal crimes including murders, kidnappings, and sexual violence across the country.
