After nearly two years in power, Haiti’s nine-member transitional presidential council resigned on Saturday, transferring executive authority to U.S.-backed Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime. The move leaves Fils-Aime as the country’s sole executive official amid a worsening security and humanitarian crisis.
Council President Laurent Saint-Cyr urged a focus on urgent priorities as he handed over power, saying the new government’s “watchwords are clear: security, political dialogue, elections, stability,” and noting the heavy responsibility the prime minister is assuming.
Why the council stepped down
Haiti, the poorest country in Latin America, has been battered by escalating gang violence, including killings, rapes and mass kidnappings. The transitional council’s two-year term failed to check the rise of armed gangs and was marred by food shortages, allegations of corruption and internal political infighting.
In late January, several council members acknowledged moves to remove the prime minister, prompting warnings from the United States. Washington publicly supported Fils-Aime remaining in office after February 7, demanded the council relinquish power, and imposed sanctions on five council members for their roles in the dispute.
The U.S. Embassy in Haiti said it supported Prime Minister Fils-Aime’s leadership as the council’s mandate ended, urging work toward a stronger, more prosperous and free Haiti.
What comes next
Fils-Aime now faces the twin tasks of filling the political vacuum and organizing national elections — a major challenge in a country that has not held a nationwide vote since 2016. Humanitarian needs are severe: roughly 1.4 million people, about 10% of Haiti’s population, face displacement and acute food insecurity as violence continues.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio has emphasized the importance of Fils-Aime remaining in office to confront the gangs and stabilize the country. Days before the council stepped down, the United States sent three warships to waters off Port-au-Prince, where some estimates say up to 90% of the capital lies under gang influence. Analysts say the naval presence signals Washington’s willingness to use the threat of force to influence politics in the hemisphere.
The resignation marks a new, precarious chapter for Haiti: the prime minister must now consolidate authority, restore security, and pave the way for elections while addressing deep humanitarian and governance challenges.
Edited by: Sean Sinico