On Wednesday, a senior U.S. diplomat told a gathering at the Council on Foreign Relations that preparations are underway in Haiti to create the long-awaited Transitional Presidential Council.
Brian Nichols, the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, told the audience that the committee’s establishment could be completed in the coming days.
The seven-member body is expected to choose Haiti’s next prime minister and cabinet, who will serve until national elections can take place. None of the members will be permitted to stand as candidates themselves.
In addition, the participants will be tasked with establishing security, constitutional, and electoral reforms.
The selection of new political leadership comes as the impoverished country has been facing relentless gang violence since February, resulting in a complete breakdown of law-and-order.
The criminal factions have attacked government buildings, looted businesses, freed prisoners, closed the main airport, taken hostages, and blocked the delivery of much-needed humanitarian supplies.
It is estimated that they control approximately 80% of the area in the capital city of Port-au-Prince.
According to a U.N. report, almost 1,600 Haitians have been killed in the unrest.
The country’s former Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, announced his resignation on March 11, after the unpopular leader found himself stranded in Puerto Rico while returning from an official visit to Kenya.
Henry, who came to power with the support of the United States, replaced President Jovenel Moïse, who was assassinated in 2021.
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