**PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI** – In a move that further exacerbates the nation's protracted political turmoil, members of Haiti's Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) have declared their intention to remove Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime from office. The decision, announced on Friday, directly contravenes explicit recommendations from the United States, which has underscored the Prime Minister's crucial role in addressing the escalating gang violence and restoring stability to the Caribbean nation.
The TPC, a nine-member body established in 2024 to steer the country towards elections following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, asserts its prerogative to appoint and dismiss the head of government. Leslie Voltaire, a council member, articulated this position, stating, "We are the ones who appointed Didier Fils-Aime in November 2024. We are the ones who worked with him for a year, and it is up to us to issue a new decree naming a new prime minister, a new government and a new presidency." This declaration signals a clear intent to install a new leadership structure, including a fresh cabinet and a new presidential figure, within a proposed 30-day timeframe. The plan, however, hinges on its official publication in the government gazette to gain legal standing.
This latest political manoeuvre deepens a discernible rift between the TPC and Washington. The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, had previously emphasised the importance of Mr. Fils-Aime's continued tenure, highlighting his significance in the fight against the pervasive gang influence and the broader effort to stabilise Haiti. The council's defiance of these diplomatic overtures raises significant questions about the future trajectory of US-Haiti relations and the efficacy of international pressure in shaping the nation's governance.
The appointment of Mr. Fils-Aime himself was a product of the TPC's earlier decision-making process, following the dismissal of his predecessor, Garry Conille, a mere six months after the council's inception. This pattern of internal leadership changes within the TPC, coupled with the looming dissolution of its own mandate on February 7th, underscores the inherent fragility of the current political arrangement. Haiti has been grappling with a severe governance vacuum and pervasive insecurity, leading to repeated postponements of democratic elections, originally slated for February and subsequently rescheduled for August. The persistent threat of gang violence has been a primary impediment to any semblance of normalcy and democratic progress.
The TPC's assertion of authority to replace the Prime Minister stems from its designation as the nation's supreme executive organ. However, the internal divisions and the council's own impending expiration date cast a shadow over the legitimacy and sustainability of any new appointments. The decision to oust Mr. Fils-Aime, driven by internal council dynamics, unfolds against a backdrop of profound national crisis. The country's capacity to navigate these turbulent waters and establish a stable, democratically elected government remains precariously uncertain, with this latest development potentially injecting further instability into an already volatile environment.