Another Haitian Prime Minister has been ousted barely a month after meeting with Kenyan President William Ruto. Garry Conille was dismissed on Sunday amidst ongoing political turbulence that has destabilized Haiti since gangs took control.
Conille, appointed as interim prime minister in May, was removed by Haiti’s electoral council. According to an announcement published in the country’s official Gazette, Le Moniteur, on November 11, entrepreneur and former Senate candidate Alix Didier Fils-Aimé was chosen by the transition council to replace him. The official reason for Conille’s removal remains undisclosed.
Fils-Aimé, who previously served as president of Haiti’s Chamber of Commerce, now steps into the position.
On October 10, Conille visited Kenya to meet with President Ruto after gang violence claimed over 70 lives in central Haiti. During their discussions, the two leaders focused on the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM), led by Kenya, and explored ways to strengthen ties between Kenya and Haiti, particularly in security cooperation and regional stability.
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Conille’s departure echoes that of Ariel Henry, who resigned shortly after his visit to Kenya in February. Henry faced potential reentry issues in Haiti after his trip, causing him to dock in Puerto Rico temporarily. His resignation followed a crisis meeting on March 12 with CARICOM, the 15-member Caribbean regional bloc.
“The transitional presidential council has accepted his resignation and appointed an interim prime minister,” said CARICOM chair Mohammed Irfaan Ali, the President of Guyana.
This marks the third prime minister change in Haiti in as many years, following the assassination of its president in 2021, with no elections held since. Conille, well-regarded internationally, was expected to lead Haiti towards long-awaited national elections next year. Known for his fluent English and his distance from traditional party politics, Conille’s leadership was seen as a potential pathway to stability for Haiti.
