Haiti has established a new government following months of political instability. Fourteen ministers share the responsibilities of 18 ministries. The Presidential Transition Council appointed Garry Conille as the successor to Ariel Henry, who resigned as acting prime minister on March 11.
The country has been mired in chaos for years, driven by the war between criminal groups vying with the state for territorial control. An offensive launched by several gangs on February 29 against the capital, Port-au-Prince, allowed criminals to seize control of 80% of the country, worsening an already dire security situation.
Security first
The newly appointed government faces the immediate challenge of curbing the violence that has displaced 580,000 people and exacerbated the food and healthcare crises. Garry Conille, a physician by training, briefly served as prime minister from 2011 to 2012 and was the regional director for UNICEF until his recent appointment. He has named Dominique Dupuy, Haiti’s representative to UNESCO, to the crucial position of Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“Currently, the streets of downtown Port-au-Prince are completely deserted. We need to reclaim the city, reopen hospitals taken over by gangs, and restore basic services,” said Jean-Marie Theodat, a Haitian writer and Caribbean geopolitics expert. “But I don’t see how we can meet these challenges with our limited military and financial resources. There are roughly as many criminals as police officers, but the criminals are better armed,” he lamented.
Moreover, part of the country’s police force is corrupt and has ties to the gangs. Jimmy Chérizier, the main gang leader known as “Barbecue,” is a former national police officer. “While half of the police are corrupt, the other half continues to perform patriotic work,” Theodat acknowledged.
The prospect of a multinational force
To restore security, a multinational force is being considered, with logistical support from the United States. Police officers from Kenya are expected to arrive in Haiti soon to combat the gangs. “There’s a lack of enthusiasm for this mission. We need police officers willing to risk their lives to retake Port-au-Prince. Instead, we have lightly armed Kenyan officers, which raises skepticism,” the Haitian writer noted.
Despite this goal, the country seems far from regaining control from the gangs. This is crucial for organizing presidential elections to elect a successor to President Jovenel Moïse, who was assassinated by a criminal group in 2021. “To hold elections, candidates need to campaign, but currently, violence hinders any electoral campaign, and the country’s poverty prevents a clean and transparent election,” Theodat added. In the meantime, the nine-member Presidential Transition Council is leading the country.
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