Haiti – Political Crisis, Plans to Remove PM Despite Trump’s Threats

2026-01-25 - 21:07

Haiti’s deepening political crisis recently intensified as two senior members of the country’s Transitional Presidential Council confirmed plans to move ahead with the removal of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, despite strong warnings from the United States that such action would carry consequences. Speaking at a press conference, council member Leslie Voltaire said the body had full authority to replace the prime minister, noting that it was the council itself that appointed Fils-Aimé in November 2024. “We are the ones who appointed Didier Fils-Aimé 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,” Voltaire stated. The Transitional Presidential Council serves as Haiti’s highest executive authority and was established in 2024 to guide the country toward its first national elections in nearly a decade. However, the electoral timeline has been repeatedly delayed amid worsening insecurity fueled by violent and heavily armed gangs that now control large portions of the country. The council previously dismissed its first prime minister just six months into his tenure. Its current mandate is set to expire on February 7, yet no formal succession plan has been announced. Earlier on Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a telephone conversation with Fils-Aimé, according to a US government spokesperson. During the call, Rubio stressed the importance of the prime minister remaining in office to preserve stability and urged that the council be dissolved at the end of its mandate. He also warned that Haitian politicians accused of corruption could face what he described as a steep cost. Despite the US position, five of the council’s nine members have reportedly signed a resolution seeking Fils-Aimé’s removal, according to four council members who spoke to local media. The resolution has not yet been published in Haiti’s official gazette, a legal requirement before it can take effect. Fils-Aimé has so far made no public comment on the effort to oust him. Voltaire appeared alongside fellow council member Edgard Leblanc Fils, who said the plan was to replace the prime minister in accordance with established procedures within 30 days. Voltaire added that a temporary pause would allow political groups to propose a consensus candidate. If no agreement is reached, he said the council would determine the country’s next governance structure. Both Voltaire and Leblanc Fils sharply criticized the US response, describing it as an affront to Haiti’s sovereignty. Since its appointment in April 2024, the council has been plagued by internal divisions, corruption allegations, and a rapidly deteriorating security environment. Last year, a Haitian court dismissed summonses against three council members accused of corruption, ruling that they were shielded by their official status. Although they retained their positions, they were barred from participating in the council’s rotating presidency. Two of those members are among the signatories supporting Fils-Aimé’s removal. In an interview with Radio Kiskeya on Thursday, council member Louis Gérard Gilles said Finance Minister Alfred Metellus is being considered as a potential replacement. Metellus is a longtime public sector official and former consultant with the Inter-American Development Bank. However, not all council members appear to support the move. Current council president Laurent Saint Cyr was seen attending a police ceremony on Friday alongside Fils-Aimé. At that event, US Charge d’Affaires Henry Wooster said it was essential for the prime minister to remain in office to sustain efforts to combat gang violence. As political tensions escalate, Haiti remains without a clear path forward, with leadership uncertainty compounding an already fragile security and humanitarian situation.