UN development specialist Garry Conille has been named Haiti’s new prime minister by the country’s transitional council.
The move comes amid a security crisis in the Caribbean country, with armed gangs controlling most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and parts of the countryside.
The transitional council was formed last month after former Prime Minister Ariel Henry formally resigned.
A member of the council told the AFP news agency that Conille was elected 6-1 on Tuesday afternoon.
Council president Edgard Leblanc also announce the decision on social media.
Who is Garry Conille?
Conille has been UNICEF’s regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean since January 2023 and briefly served as prime minister from October 2011 to May 2012.
Amid a climate of gang violence, poverty and political instability, a new prime minister has been named to lead Haiti. Gary Conille is no stranger to the position: he previously served as Haiti's prime minister from October 2011 to May 2012, and helped coordinate the reconstruction effort after the devastating 2010 earthquake. He is now faced with the task of wrestling Haiti back from the armed gangs who control an estimated 80% of the capital Port-au-Prince.
UNICEF said in a short statement to late Tuesday that he was stepping down from his role as regional director: “We are working closely with Garry to ensure a smooth transition at this time.”
What is the political situation in Haiti?
Haiti is waiting for the deployment of a Kenyan-led multinational force tasked with returning control of the capital to the state.
Following Henry’s resignation, Kenya said it would halt the deployment of its multinational force until a new government is installed.
Haiti has had no president since the assassination of Jovenel Moise in 2021 and has no sitting parliament.
The country’s last election was held in 2016.
Gang violence in Haiti
Gangs launched a series of attacks on police stations, prisons and other infrastructure in February while Henry was on a state visit to Kenya.
Armed groups released over 4,000 inmates after storming the country’s two largest prisons.
Henry was locked out of the country by the attacks and Haiti’s airport in Port-au-Prince was not operational for three months.
Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands displaced in the upsurge of gang violence.
Last week, gang members killed three missionaries, a Haitian and a US couple.
AP/AFP/F24
Siddhartha 