Overview:
As Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council nears the top of its Feb. 7 mandate, political events and civil society teams are boycotting talks and calling for its departure, citing failed safety efforts, no elections, corruption scandals and worsening gang violence since April 2024.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — As Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) enters the ultimate days of its mandate, political events, civil society teams and extraordinary residents are intensifying requires its departure, describing the council as expensive, corrupt and incapable of addressing the nation’s deepening disaster.
A number of political teams have boycotted CPT-led discussions aimed toward defining a framework for the put up–Feb. 7 interval, arguing that the council lacks the credibility to mediate a transition or justify any extension of its mandate.
“The contract is over; there can be no renewal,” former Sen. Jean Renel Sénatus mentioned at a Jan. 22 press convention after refusing to attend the council’s talks. “We have now already agreed that the transition will proceed with a president from the Courtroom of Cassation to make sure impartial governance.”
Talking on behalf of events inside the Grand Bloc du Peuple—French for “Folks’s Nice Bloc”—Sénatus mentioned the CPT can’t act as each referee and participant in negotiations over its personal future. His place mirrors that of the G10, a coalition of political events led by former Prime Minister Jean-Michel Lapin, which additionally rejected the CPT’s invitation.
Lapin advised Magik9 radio on Jan. 19 that the council’s initiative got here too late and warned towards any try and reshuffle or shrink the CPT. “We can’t return to an train that would result in a council diminished to a few members,” he mentioned, reiterating requires a bicephalic transitional authorities— a president and prime minister — as supplied for within the Structure.
A transition extensively considered as a failure
Discussions started Jan. 18 to form a pathway to the put up–Feb. 7 interval. The talks led 5 CPT members to think about dismissing Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, a transfer some political actors mentioned was essential to proceed dialogue. The trouble, nonetheless, drew sharp worldwide pushback, significantly from america, which sanctioned CPT members and a minister concerned within the transfer, citing the necessity to respect the transition timeline.
The CPT was created beneath an April 3, 2024, political settlement, following the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Its mandate was clear: restore safety, manage elections, revive the economic system, and oversee constitutional and institutional reforms.
“The contract is over; there can be no renewal.”
Former Sen. Jean Renel Sénatus
Almost two years later, critics say none of these objectives has been met.
Since April 2024, Haiti has held no nationwide elections. The economic system has continued to contract, getting into a seventh consecutive yr of recession in 2025. On the identical time, the safety scenario has worsened sharply, marked by mass killings, increasing territorial gang management and file ranges of displacement.
Greater than 8,000 folks had been killed between 2024 and 2025, in response to the United Nations. A minimum of 33 law enforcement officials died throughout the identical interval, in response to the Nationwide Human Rights Protection Community (RNDDH). Over 1.4 million folks have been displaced, whereas greater than 5.7 million face acute meals insecurity.
In the meantime, gangs management dozens of neighborhoods, together with at the least 25 in Port-au-Prince, in response to a 2025 report by the Middle for Evaluation and Analysis in Human Rights (CARDH).
Restricted actions, little impression, corruption allegations and lacking oversight
Supporters of the CPT level to some measures taken throughout its mandate, together with the belated institution of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), the reopening of the Port of Saint-Jean du Sud and the Les Cayes airport within the South, and the deployment of the Kenya-led Multinational Safety Assist (MSS) mission authorised by the United Nations in October 2023.
However critics argue that these actionscame too late or failed to provide significant enchancment.
The Steering Committee of the Nationwide Convention, supplied for beneath the April 3 settlement, was established however dissolved inside months. Funds and time had been wasted on drafting unpopular constitutional proposals that in the end led to no referendum being held.
“The CPT is ending its mandate with out having achieved any of the targets assigned to it,” mentioned former deputy Déus Deronneth throughout a Jan. 21 nationwide safety symposium. “If no settlement is reached, then by Feb. 8 all members of the federal government should resign.”
Criticism of the CPT has additionally been fueled by corruption allegations. Three council members — Emmanuel Vertilaire, Louis Gérald Gilles and Smith Augustin — had been implicated in abuse-of-power and corruption circumstances, in response to Haiti’s Anti-Corruption Unit.
Oversight our bodies mandated by the April 3 settlement had been by no means established, together with the Nationwide Safety Council, the federal government oversight physique (OCAG) and the Reality, Justice and Reconciliation Fee. The settlement itself was by no means formally revealed.
In April 2025, RNDDH reported that CPT members value the Haitian state roughly $8.3 million yearly. Every councilor receives about $77,000 per 30 days in complete compensation, together with vacation bonuses starting from $23,000 to $38,000.
“They govern alone, spend excessively and lead lavish existence,” RNDDH mentioned, “whereas Haiti stays mired in disaster.”
Ronmdy Jean-Louis, a mechanic dwelling in Delmas, agrees that the CPT prices the nation an unlimited sum of money with out delivering concrete outcomes.
“Properly, they gained’t repair something for us, so allow them to depart; they’re really ineffective to the nation,” Jean-Louis mentioned.
Public anger and requires a brand new method
Frustration with the CPT extends nicely past political events.
“We wanted safety and the reopening of roads,” mentioned Pétrus Lérice, a public transport employee. “Since they delivered nothing, they need to depart.”
Wesner Alciné, a graduating social work scholar, described the CPT as a waste of time. “They by no means handle to agree on critical selections, and the nation retains collapsing,” he mentioned.
Fanmi Lavalas, the occasion of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, mentioned it warned early on that the transition was failing.
“It’s the safety we anticipated from the CPT, which betrayed the Haitian folks,” the occasion mentioned in a statement. “Fanmi Lavalas’ espresso doesn’t stream with betrayal,” the Aristide occasion concluded to distance itself from the council, through which Lesly Voltaire, its designated consultant, is a key determine.
As Feb. 7 approaches, proposals for a post-CPT framework proceed to multiply. Civil society teams are calling for stronger oversight mechanisms to forestall future mismanagement.
“We suggest a transitional oversight chamber to cease the plundering of public sources and guarantee funds are directed towards safety and elections,” mentioned the December 4 Collective.
Voices within the diaspora have additionally weighed in. In an open letter to President Donald J. Trump, dated Jan. 27, singer Lord Kinomorsa “King Kino” Divers urged america to assist inclusive dialogue, institutional reforms and sustainable improvement in Haiti.
With no consensus but in sight, Haiti as soon as once more faces a well-known dilemma: the danger of a political vacuum unfolding with a humanitarian and safety emergency that continues to deepen.