Haiti appoints new prime minister amid crisis

Haiti's transitional presidential council has appointed entrepreneur Alix Didier Fils-Aime as the country's new prime minister, replacing Garry Conille after just six months in office. The appointment, announced in Haiti's official gazette, marks another shift in the nation's political landscape amid ongoing security challenges.

Following his appointment, Didier pledged to prioritize transparency and good governance, promising to hold "inclusive, transparent, and democratic elections." The new prime minister, son of prominent Haitian activist Alix Fils-Aime who was imprisoned during the Duvalier dictatorship, emphasized the need for Haiti's "vital forces" to unite in addressing the country's problems.

The leadership change comes as Haiti grapples with severe security issues, with armed gangs controlling most of Port-au-Prince and expanding their influence to neighboring areas. This has resulted in widespread displacement and increased hunger among the population.

The outgoing Prime Minister Conille, who had recently sought security assistance in the UAE and Kenya following a gang attack that killed at least 70 people, has contested his dismissal. In a circulating social media letter, he argued that the transitional council only has the authority to appoint, not dismiss, a prime minister.

The transitional council, established in April, was given certain presidential powers and tasked with selecting a prime minister until conditions improve sufficiently for new elections. However, the council has experienced internal conflicts, and promised international support for Haiti continues to lag while neighboring countries deport Haitian migrants back to the crisis-stricken nation.