On Friday, 12 April 2024, Le Moniteur, the official Haitian government gazette, published the decree that names the nine members (seven voting) of the Haiti Presidential Transitional Council. The council is tasked with choosing Haiti’s next acting prime minister/president and government cabinet. The move is seen by supporters as an important step to reverse the violence and chaos primarily in the Haitian capital now under the control of criminal gangs and the most impacted by the Haitian multidimensional crisis.
The council will be based at the Haitian National Palace and its mandate is supposed to end when a new president is sworn in, with no possibility of extension.
The next step is for the council to appoint the acting prime minister. The decree notes that incumbent Prime Minister Ariel Henry would complete his resignation once a new prime minister is appointed.
The published decree does not set a deadline for choosing the new prime minister or cabinet, and instead mentions the council must do so ”quickly.”
The council also is responsible for helping set the agenda of a new government cabinet and will appoint members to form a provisional electoral council, which is needed before elections are held. It also will establish a national security council whose responsibilities have not been decided.
The council is expected to organize elections within two years. The decree establishes that the president-elect must be sworn in by 7 February 2026, at the latest, and that the council will exercise presidential powers until then.
The decree, signed by Henry and his cabinet, notes that no one who has been sanctioned by the United Nations, opposes the deployment of a foreign armed force or plans to run in the next general election can be a member of the council.
The Voice of America reports that the nine on the transition council were chosen by Petit Desalin, a party led by former senator and presidential candidate Jean-Charles Moise; EDE/RED, a party led by former Prime Minister Claude Joseph; the Montana Accord, a group of civil society leaders, political parties and others; Fanmi Lavalas, the party of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide; the January 30 Collective, which represents parties including that of former President Michel Martelly; and the private sector.
The main priority of the newly installed Presidential Council is to address the security situation so that Haitians can go about their daily lives in a normal manner.
The published decree acknowledges what is called “a multidimensional crisis” that has worsened since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. It says the crisis has led to a “catastrophic humanitarian situation” and that Haiti is experiencing “unprecedented institutional dysfunction, which has led to a political impasse.”
The US government and spokespersons for the Caribbean Community (Caricom) issued separate statements welcoming the step forward.
Read more:
Voice of America
Caribbean News Global
US State Department
Haiti Times
Haiti Policy House
Diario Libre
N Digital
15 April 2024