Haiti's Transitional Council Announces Formation of a New Government

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – Haiti’s transitional council Tuesday announced the formation of a new government, replacing all the members of former prime minister Dr. Ariel Henry’s cabinet, as the country moves ahead with plans to restore peace and security amid rampant gang violence.

Prime Minister Garry Conille The decree appointing members of the new cabinet was published in Haiti’s official gazette, two weeks after Garry Conille,58, who served as Haiti’s premier for a short period in 2011-2012, and was until recently regional director for UN aid agency UNICEF, was named as interim prime minister. Conille will also be the Interior Minister.

Several ministers in the new cabinet are from outside the country’s political class with Dominique Dupuy, Haiti’s representative at the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), serving as the new foreign minister.

Haiti has not held an election since 2016 with the country’s last elected head of state, Jovenel Moise, assassinated at his private residence overlooking the capital, Port au Prince, in July 2021.

Earlier this year, the US Department of State said the establishment of the new transitional council paves the way for “free and fair elections” in the country.

Last October, the United Nations Security Council approved a Kenya-led multinational force as efforts continue to restore peace and security in the country with criminal gangs reported to be in control of at least 80 per cent of the capital.

The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Chad, Jamaica and Kenya have officially notified the Secretary-General of their intent to contribute personnel to the support mission.

Kenya’s President William Ruto has said the deployment would likely start within a few weeks.