Haiti’s Prime Minister Garry Conille was dismissed by the ruling council, risking disruption of critical security efforts, including the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission aimed at stabilizing the country. Businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aime was appointed as Conille’s successor, despite Conille’s claim that the decision violated Haiti’s constitutional process, which requires parliamentary approval to dismiss a prime minister.
This political upheaval adds complexity to ongoing efforts to curb the country’s severe gang violence, which has displaced over 500,000 people and killed thousands in 2024 alone. Conille had been collaborating with international allies, including Kenya and the U.S., on security initiatives. Kenya, with support from the U.N., has deployed officers to assist in reclaiming gang-occupied areas and plans to send additional forces soon.
The ruling council has faced internal disputes and Conille’s resistance to cabinet changes requested by council president Leslie Voltaire, fueling political tensions. Since the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, Haiti has struggled to restore democratic order, facing extensive challenges in addressing gang control and widespread poverty, with nearly half the population facing severe food shortages.
