Haiti's transition council on Tuesday tapped former Prime Minister Garry Conille, who briefly led the country over a decade ago, to return to the role as the Caribbean nation works to restore stability and take back control from violent gangs.
The transition council voted 6-1 to install Conille as interim prime minister, a member told Reuters.
Conille's extensive resume in development, working largely with the United Nations, is considered key to shoring up international support as Haiti prepares to launch a U.N.-backed security mission led by Kenya, though its deployment has faced hurdles.
The transition council, which holds some presidential powers, and its head, Edgard Leblanc, acting as a de-facto president, are now tasked with holding elections before Feb. 7, 2026, as laid out in Haiti's constitution.
Swoan Parker/Reuters
"Following discussions within the transition council after hearings with the candidates for prime minister, Dr. Garry Conille was chosen by consensus to lead the government during this transition period," Leblanc said on X.
Conille's naming underscores progress in Haiti's political process and follows Prime Minister Ariel Henry's resignation in March after he left Haiti to seek support for the Kenyan security mission and was unable to re-enter the country.
President Jovenel Moise, who named Henry, was assassinated in 2021. Haiti has not had a president since.
"My sincerest congratulations," business leader Alix Didier Fils-Aime, who had also put his hat in the ring for the role, said on X. "I'm still a patriot who believes in this country. Long live Haiti!"
Conille was prime minister for just seven months, resigning in February 2012 after losing the support of his cabinet and clashing with then-President Michel Martelly.
Conille and Martelly butted heads over reconstruction contracts following a deadly 2010 earthquake and a parliamentary investigation into politicians holding dual citizenship, which is illegal in Haiti.
Conille most recently held the post of regional director at the U.N. children's agency UNICEF.
Latest Stories
-
NSMQ2024: St. Hubert Sem. SHS stuns 2 Wesleyan schools with 70-point win
13 mins -
Bagbin urges Trade Minister to withdraw proposed L.I. to regulate cement prices
40 mins -
Kenya unrest: Political maneuvering shouldn’t blind us to reality of public expectation – Afenyo-Markin to political class
1 hour -
Electoral Commission reschedules 2024 voters exhibition exercise
2 hours -
NHIA to seek Attorney General’s advise on mandatory health insurance for foreigners
2 hours -
Ebenezer Aberde Kwaitoo files for Vice President of the Ghana Bar Association
2 hours -
Ghana’s Debt-to-GDP should never exceed 60 percent – ISSER
2 hours -
Religious institutions must play active role in environmental stewardship – Okyenhene
2 hours -
Paris 2024: ‘Everyone wishes to be at Olympics’ – Joselle Mensah reacts to earning spot at Games
2 hours -
Parliament reaching out to all stakeholders for a peaceful election – Bagbin
2 hours -
I am the president Ghana needs now – Alan Kyerematen
3 hours -
Ambulance trial: I am confident I will come out victorious – Jakpa
3 hours -
I got ambulance procurement idea after Atta Mills’ 2009 SONA – Jakpa
3 hours -
Gaps in care practices, others impeding development in children – UNICEF
3 hours -
Promote household gardening to prevent NCDs- Abekah-Nkrumah
3 hours