标签： Haiti

In a momentous national address marking Haiti’s constitutional milestone on February 7th, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé delivered a solemn declaration of the nation’s path forward following the conclusion of the Presidential Transitional Council’s mandate. The Prime Minister’s speech, characterized by its grave tone and profound sense of national duty, emphasized February 7th as symbolizing republican continuity, popular sovereignty, and the Haitian people’s unwavering aspiration for freedom, security, and dignity.

While acknowledging the efforts and sacrifices made by the CPT members during nearly two years of extreme complexity, Fils-Aimé conceded that the transition process remains incomplete. Persistent insecurity and the inability to conduct elections within originally scheduled timelines have hampered progress. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister resolutely affirmed that Haiti will not yield to discouragement or internal division, maintaining that the transition’s core mission remains unchanged: restoring security, organizing free and democratic elections, and transferring power to legitimately elected leadership.

The address contained strong commitments to combatting the nation’s security crisis, with Fils-Aimé promising relentless pursuit of armed gangs and their accomplices. The Haitian National Police and Armed Forces will operate with intensified coordination and continuity until complete territorial control is reestablished and peace returns to communities. Recognizing widespread social suffering, the government will immediately implement an emergency humanitarian plan providing food assistance, healthcare, and shelter to vulnerable populations, asserting that security and dignity must advance together.

Fils-Aimé issued a powerful appeal for national unity, inviting all sectors—political parties, civil society, private sector, religious leaders, artists, youth, women, farmers, and the diaspora—to transcend divisions and unite around a republican pact centered on security, elections, and economic recovery. The international community received both gratitude for existing support and a call for strengthened, coordinated commitment to Haiti’s stability and gang violence eradication.

In a solemn pledge, the Prime Minister vowed to lead this decisive phase with truth, courage, firmness against terror, and humanity toward the suffering population, ensuring state impartiality and guaranteeing freedoms, justice, and electoral transparency. Concluding with a call for trust, courage, and civic vigilance, Fils-Aimé affirmed that a united people never loses its way, declaring: ‘The time for coming together has come. The State is reclaiming its place. Life must go on. Haiti will not perish.’

Port-au-Prince, Haiti witnessed a significant political transition on February 7, 2026, as the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) formally concluded its mandate in a ceremony at the Villa d’Accueil. Outgoing President and Council Coordinator Laurent Saint-Cyr officially transferred authority to Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, adhering to the constitutional provisions outlined in the CPT-establishing decree while emphasizing the importance of governmental continuity.

The transfer ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials including government ministers, the Director General of Police, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, representatives from the Anti-Gang Force, and members of the diplomatic corps, underscoring the event’s significance in Haiti’s political landscape.

In his farewell address, Saint-Cyr characterized February 7th as a day of reflection and learning, acknowledging that Haiti’s ongoing governance crisis stems from multiple complex factors. He described the CPT’s mandate as an exceptionally challenging undertaking, noting that promised resources and support essential for fulfilling their mission failed to materialize. Despite these challenges, Saint-Cyr clarified that Haiti would not experience an institutional void following the CPT’s dissolution, as stipulated by the April 3rd Agreement. He confirmed that Prime Minister Fils-Aimé and the Council of Ministers would continue their work to stabilize the nation, with Marie Élisabeth Régine Joseph Haddadla, Secretary General of the Presidency, assuming responsibility for safeguarding the institution’s integrity.

In response, Prime Minister Fils-Aimé expressed gratitude to the departing CPT members and announced his immediate plans to address the nation that evening. He further revealed intentions to convene an extraordinary cabinet meeting promptly to initiate governmental operations without delay, signaling a commitment to maintaining administrative momentum during this transitional phase.

PORT-AU-PRINCE – The Council of the State University of Haiti (CUEH) has issued a formal condemnation of the Executive Branch’s recent establishment of a regulatory body for higher education, declaring it an unconstitutional violation of institutional autonomy. In an official statement, the council characterized the move as a fundamental breach of legal hierarchy that undermines Haiti’s constitutional framework.

The controversy centers on the Decree of March 11, 2020, concerning the organization and modernization of higher education, which the CUEH maintains contradicts constitutional principles enshrined in Articles 32, 208, and 209 of Haiti’s 1987 Constitution. According to the council, these provisions guarantee the autonomy and independence of the State University of Haiti (UEH), making the executive’s unilateral actions legally invalid.

Documented opposition to the decree dates back to November 2020 when the CUEH adopted a resolution warning public authorities against implementation and demanding suspension. Subsequent communications from the Rectorate of UEH to executive authorities in August and November 2025 requested institutional dialogue, decree suspension, and commitment to national consultation on higher education reforms.

The situation escalated dramatically when the Council of Ministers adopted the decree on December 18, 2025, followed by its official publication in ‘Le Moniteur’ on December 30, 2025, and the subsequent establishment of the regulatory body. While acknowledging the legitimate need for higher education regulation, the CUEH asserts that these actions severely compromise constitutional guarantees and exacerbate existing institutional, social, and security crises.

The council warns that these practices undermine institutional stability, jeopardize non-profit higher education’s public service mission, and potentially damage both public and private higher education sectors along with national socio-economic development. Historically, the UEH has positioned itself as a defender of democratic principles against authoritarian ambitions throughout Haiti’s political history.

The CUEH demands immediate withdrawal of the March 11, 2020 decree and all related administrative measures while issuing a solemn appeal to the executive branch, political actors, and civil society – particularly academic sectors – to commit to profound higher education reforms based on dialogue, consultation, and national interest.

Reaffirming its commitment to democratic principles, the council pledged to continue protecting UEH as an autonomous institution it describes as ‘a true national treasure.’ The statement was formally endorsed by Rector Dieuseul Prédélus in his capacity as President of the University Council.

The Haitian government has declared an unwavering offensive against pervasive insecurity, positioning public security as the fundamental prerequisite for national stability and economic recovery. During the 35th edition of ‘Tuesdays of the Nation,’ Secretary of State for Public Security Mario Andrésol articulated the administration’s structured and irreversible campaign to restore state authority across the nation.

Andrésol characterized public security as an absolute strategic priority essential for political normalization, economic revitalization, and democratic restoration. The government’s approach received significant international reinforcement through a strategic cooperation framework signed with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in late July 2025.

This comprehensive partnership is built upon five interconnected pillars designed to systematically address Haiti’s security crisis. The framework prioritizes enhancing governance and strategic management within public security institutions while simultaneously consolidating the legal and regulatory foundations of the security sector. It further provides direct support to government mechanisms for strategic planning and critical decision-making processes.

The cooperation additionally focuses on strengthening community resilience against diverse security threats, both criminal and non-criminal in nature. A crucial component involves intensifying operations against transnational organized crime networks while promoting inclusive security measures and ensuring equity in state security operations across all communities.

The primary objective of this multilateral initiative is to support the Haitian State’s gradual territorial reconquest, specifically targeting the establishment of lasting security in the highly vulnerable West, Artibonite, and Central departments where armed gangs have exerted significant control. To operationalize this strategy, the Office of the Secretary of State for Public Security has convened a specialized team comprising both national and international security experts.