Haiti crisis: transitional government takes power as gangs hold capital ‘hostage’
- Transitional council is tasked with bringing political stability to gang-riven Haiti
- Spiralling violence has killed thousands in the impoverished Caribbean country
Haiti’s transition council took power in a ceremony on Thursday, formalising the resignation of former prime minster Ariel Henry as the Caribbean country seeks to establish security after years of gang violence wreaking chaos and misery.
Henry’s finance minister, Michel Patrick Boisvert, will be interim prime minister until the transition council appoints a new head of government, a cabinet and a provisional electoral council set to pave the way for an eventual vote.
“Today is an important day in the life of our dear republic, this day in effect opens a view to a solution,” Boisvert said after the nine-person transition council were sworn in on Thursday.
Regine Abraham, a non-voting council member, thanked Haiti’s security forces and international mediators, and said the council would focus on security, a national consultation on constitutional reform, preparing for elections, rebuilding the judiciary system and the economy.
“We are seeing the total collapse of our institutions and failure of a government,” she said.
