Haiti Faces a New Political Pause After Transition Council Ends

The Caribbean nation of Haiti has slipped into a state of uncertainty as its temporary governing body’s authority expired, leaving no clear next step for leadership. The nine‑person council that was set up in April to calm violent gang clashes and prepare for elections has seen its power fade amid rising crime, accusations of corruption and internal disputes. In late January, some council members pushed to remove the current prime minister, but U. S. officials warned of severe repercussions and urged him to stay on. The United States also demanded the council step aside, imposing sanctions on five members of the group. The U. S. embassy publicly backed the prime minister’s role in steering Haiti toward stability, and a day earlier, three American warships docked near Port‑au‑Prince to signal support for the country’s safety.While most Haitian leaders agree that the council should resign, they have not settled on a replacement structure. Former legislator Antoine Rodon Bien‑Aime noted that many plans have been floated, yet none has secured unanimous approval. Haiti’s last elected president died in 2021, and the country has not held a presidential election since 2016. Armed factions now control large swaths of the capital, farmland and central regions, making it hard to organize a fair vote. According to United Nations data, about 1. 4 million Haitians were displaced by October of this year, a rise of one million people since the council began. The UN approved an international security team to help restore order, but after two years only around 1, 000 mainly Kenyan police officers have been stationed there. The plan is to increase the force to 5, 500 by summer.