PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) 鈥� Haiti鈥檚 presidential council stepped down on Saturday after almost two years of tumultuous rule alongside a , who is expected to remain in power as the country prepares for the first in a decade.
Days before the nine-member council was dissolved, the U.S. deployed a warship and two U.S. Coast Guard boats to waters near Haiti鈥檚 capital, where gangs control 90% of Port-au-Prince.
鈥淭he naval presence appears to provide the latest proof of Washington鈥檚 willingness to use the threat of force to shape politics in the Western Hemisphere,鈥� said Diego Da Rin, an analyst with the International Crisis Group.
In late January, two of the council鈥檚 most influential members announced that a majority , defying calls from the U.S. government to uphold the country鈥檚 fragile political stability.
Days later, the U.S. government announced visa revocations for four unidentified council members and a Cabinet minister.
The council鈥檚 plan to oust Fils-Aim茅 for reasons not made public appeared to fall to the wayside as it stepped down in an official ceremony on Saturday.
鈥淲e need to put our personal interest to the side and continue progress for security,鈥� said the council’s outgoing president, Laurent Saint-Cyr, who rejected a push to dismiss the prime minister.
Fils-Aim茅 spoke briefly, saying he would address the nation later in the day.
鈥淭he presidential council has done its work by paving the way for a governance mindful of security and electoral issues,鈥� he said.
鈥業 don鈥檛 promise miracles’
On Saturday evening, in a rare move for a Haitian prime minister, Fils-Aim茅 spoke at the hour announced and promised to establish security, hold elections and develop an emergency humanitarian plan to provide food, care and shelter for the most vulnerable.
鈥淭he suffering of the population demands immediate action,鈥� he said, stressing that Haitians must unite.
Fils-Aim茅, who was flanked by police and army officials, also pledged to make Haiti a safer place. More than 8,100 killings were reported across the country of nearly 11 million people from January to November last year, according to the United Nations, which warned those figures are underreported.
鈥淭he gangs and those who support them will be hunted down, one by one. Every occupied area will be retaken, until the day every child walks to school without fear,鈥� he said.
However, Fils-Aim茅 acknowledged that Haiti has reached what he called a dangerous crossroads.
“The coming days will be demanding,” he said. 鈥淚 don’t promise miracles.鈥�
Da Rin said negotiations are ongoing to decide what, if anything, would replace the council as prepares to transform a U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police that was .
鈥淐larity on who will govern Haiti is essential,鈥� Da Rin wrote in a recent essay. 鈥淐ountries contributing to this force will want to know they are working alongside a government whose legitimacy is undisputed.鈥�
Feb. 7 is a historic date for Haiti that marks the start of democratic rule after . It鈥檚 also when presidents are traditionally sworn in.
But Haiti failed to hold general elections on Saturday as envisioned a couple of years ago, with gang violence gripping much of the capital and swaths of land . Tentative dates were announced for August and December, but many believe it鈥檚 unlikely an election and a runoff will be held this year.
A troubled tenure
The council was established in April 2024, nearly three years after , throwing Haiti into widespread upheaval.
At the time, former Prime Minister Ariel Henry was unable to return to Haiti following an official trip to Kenya because over the course of several days, forcing the country鈥檚 main international airport to close .
after Caribbean leaders and U.S. officials urgently met in Jamaica to build a framework for a political transition after .
Council members had long pledged to quell gang violence and improve life for Haiti but fell overwhelmingly short.
鈥淭he government has been unable to push back criminal gangs that control most of Port-au-Prince and have expanded into other areas,鈥� Da Rin noted.
The council also was rocked by , with a government agency accusing three members of bribery in late 2024.
As the council stepped down on Saturday, Andr茅 Joseph, 42, a street vendor who was selling candy outside their government offices celebrated. He currently lives in a makeshift shelter 鈥� one of 1.4 million people 鈥� and said he wants to return home.
鈥淭heir time is up. They were there nearly two years and didn鈥檛 do anything for the country,鈥� he said of the council. 鈥淗aiti needs to move on with a better government in charge that could lead the country into a better direction.鈥�
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Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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