Overview:
The US has warned Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council to not change the composition of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé’s authorities because the council’s mandate approaches its February expiration. Washington, via its embassy in Port-au-Prince, mentioned any such transfer could be thought of null and will destabilize the nation, embolden gangs and run counter to the U.S. safety pursuits.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — The US has warned Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council to not make any adjustments to the nation’s present authorities, signaling that any try to take away Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé could be thought of “null and void.” United Nations officers additionally urged Haitian leaders to put aside variations, keep institutional continuity and give attention to elections.
In a statement posted on the U.S. Embassy in Haiti’s Fb web page Wednesday night, the Individuals mentioned efforts to alter the federal government would undermine safety and threat benefiting armed teams working throughout the nation at this late stage of the non permanent physique’s expiring mandate.
“The U.S. would contemplate anybody supporting such a disruptive step favoring the gangs to be appearing opposite to the pursuits of the USA, the area and the Haitian individuals and can act accordingly,” the Jan. 21 assertion mentioned.
The nine-member council — identified by its French acronym, CPT — was put in in 2024 as a part of a U.S. and CARICOM-backed transition following the collapse of state authority amid increasing gang management and the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Its mandate expires Feb. 7.
In current weeks, political tensions have been on the rise inside the council and throughout Haiti’s fragmented political class. Rumors have circulated on social media and in political circles have instructed that some CPT members are searching for to take away Fils-Aimé earlier than the top of the transition, accusing him of trying to entrench himself in energy.
“The U.S. would contemplate anybody supporting such a disruptive step, favoring the gangs, to be appearing opposite to the pursuits of the USA, the area, and the Haitian individuals.”
U.S. embassy in Haiti
The CPT not too long ago held two days of closed-door political conferences geared toward reaching an settlement on governance after Feb. 7, however no official communiqué or consequence has been launched. A number of main political actors declined to take part, elevating new doubts about whether or not the council can keep unity via the top of its mandate.
Wednesday’s warning coming right now underscores Washington’s more and more seen position in Haiti’s extended political disaster. U.S. officers reminded CPT members that they’re unelected and that their mandate is non permanent, stressing that their actions should align with efforts to protect “a minimal degree of safety and stability.”
The assertion means that people who push for adjustments to the federal government may face sanctions, cautioning that such a transfer may set off new instability at a time when gangs already management massive swaths of Port-au-Prince and key transportation routes, additional weaken the state, and complicate worldwide safety efforts.
Repeated warnings, rising stress on CPT
Wednesday’s warning is the newest of a number of public admonishments by the U.S. of Haiti’s transitional authorities.
In September 2025, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Henry Wooster advised CPT members and the prime minister that their positions weren’t everlasting and criticized what he described as efforts to make use of insecurity and a stalled constitutional reform course of as excuses to delay elections. Wooster warned that extended political inaction and infighting had contributed to the erosion of state establishments and couldn’t proceed indefinitely.
In November 2025, CPT member Fritz Alphonse Jean was sanctioned by the USA over alleged collusion with armed teams. Jean denied the allegations and demanded proof, later releasing messages he mentioned confirmed U.S. officers threatening sanctions due to his opposition to Fils-Aimé.
In December 2025, Wooster went additional, cautioning political and financial actors towards makes an attempt to destabilize the transition or cling to energy past Feb. 7. He raised the potential for focused sanctions and reaffirmed U.S. assist for organizing elections in 2026, now scheduled for Aug. 30, that may permit Haitians to decide on new leaders.
“The US will proceed to carry accountable those that, for his or her private pursuits, search to destabilize the nation and stay in energy,” Wooster mentioned on the time.
Divisions amongst CPT uncovered
The dispute over Fils-Aimé has uncovered deep divisions inside the CPT, the place repeated makes an attempt to take away the prime minister have to this point failed.
In current inner correspondence circulated amongst council members, CPT President Laurent Saint-Cyr warned that forcing out the prime minister with out a broad political consensus may additional fracture the transition and deepen the disaster. Individually, CPT member Frisnel Joseph mentioned in a public assertion on social media that he doesn’t assist eradicating Fils-Aimé, arguing as a substitute that the council ought to give attention to ending the transition on schedule and returning decision-making energy to the Haitian individuals after Feb. 7.
Jean mentioned his stance mirrored frustration with persistent insecurity and the dearth of progress towards elections. U.S. officers, nevertheless, have framed the dispute as a part of a broader effort to forestall political maneuvering that might derail the transition.
Altogether, such competing positions spotlight the council’s inner paralysis and the bounds of its authority as overseas governments proceed to play an outsized position in shaping Haiti’s political trajectory. It additionally displays ongoing energy struggles inside the CPT.
Disaster deepens amid gang violence
In the meantime, Haiti continues to face one of many worst safety and humanitarian crises in its historical past. Armed gangs proceed to increase their management, paralyzing state capabilities and fueling mass displacement. Greater than 1.4 million individuals have been compelled from their properties, and an estimated 6.4 million Haitians want humanitarian help.
Since 2022, greater than 16,000 individuals have been killed in gang-related violence, in line with worldwide estimates.
Briefing the U.N. Safety Council on Jan. 21, United Nation Particular Consultant Carlos Ruiz Massieu mentioned intentional homicides rose almost 20% in 2025 in contrast with the earlier yr, regardless of restricted safety positive aspects. He urged Haiti’s leaders to include political fragmentation and give attention to institutional continuity and elections.
“It’s crucial that nationwide actors work to include political fragmentation, put aside their variations, keep institutional continuity and give attention to organizing elections,” Massieu mentioned. “The nation can now not afford extended inner struggles.”