Haiti: PM Fils-Aimé Takes Power Amid Gang Violence & Political Crisis

Haiti Transfers Power to US-Backed Prime Minister Amidst Escalating Violence

Port-au-Prince, Haiti – February 7, 2026 – Haiti’s transitional presidential council formally handed power to US-backed Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé on Saturday, concluding nearly two years of governance marked by a failure to curb the country’s spiraling gang violence. The transfer took place under heightened security, reflecting the deeply unstable political climate gripping the impoverished Caribbean nation.

Laurent Saint-Cyr, president of the nine-member council established in April 2024, addressed Fils-Aimé during the ceremony, stating, “Our watchwords are clear: security, political dialogue, elections, stability. Mr prime minister, in this historic moment, I know that you are gauging the depth of the responsibility you are taking on for the country.”

With the dissolution of the transitional council, 54-year-old businessman Fils-Aimé now holds sole executive power in Haiti. He faces the immense challenge of organizing elections within a highly polarized political landscape. For years, Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has been ravaged by relentless gang violence, characterized by frequent murders, rapes and kidnappings.

The country has not held elections since 2016, and has been without a president since the assassination of Jovenel Moise in July 2021. Gangs currently control approximately 90 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The United Nations reported nearly 6,000 people were killed in Haiti during 2025 alone.

The escalating violence has triggered a humanitarian crisis, with approximately 1.4 million people – roughly 10 percent of the population – displaced from their homes. Nearly half of all Haitians are facing acute food insecurity, including an estimated 1.2 million children under the age of five.

The United States has publicly supported Fils-Aimé’s appointment, sending three warships to Haiti this week amid fears of a potential power vacuum. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized “the importance of his continued tenure as Haiti’s prime minister to combat terrorist gangs and stabilise the island.” Washington has also imposed sanctions on two members of the transitional council and one minister, accusing them of providing support to criminal gangs.

Haitian police have recently launched a large-scale offensive against gangs in central Port-au-Prince, including the demolition of a home belonging to Jimmy Cherizier, a notorious gang leader also known as “Barbecue.”

The transitional council’s failure to address the escalating violence and instability led to its dismantling after almost two years. The appointment of Fils-Aimé represents a new attempt to restore order and pave the way for democratic elections, though the path forward remains fraught with challenges. The situation continues to be monitored closely by international observers, who are concerned about the potential for further deterioration in the already dire humanitarian and security conditions.