:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/24D6VJUIXBEFXNPURY652D6ETI.jpg "After weeks of violence, Haitian leaders reach an agreement to form a transitional council for 22 months")
Haitian leaders have come to a political agreement to establish a transitional presidential council for a period of 22 months in an effort to combat the ongoing gang violence that has plagued the country. The nine-member council, which includes representatives from various political parties, the private sector, and civil society, will be tasked with restoring order and leading the country towards free and credible elections by February 7, 2026.
The council will replace the outgoing Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who announced his resignation earlier this month. One of the council’s first tasks will be to elect a new prime minister who will work alongside the council to appoint a government responsible for overseeing the electoral process. Notably, none of the council members or government officials will be eligible to run in the upcoming elections.
Haiti has been grappling with political instability and insecurity for years, with the situation escalating in recent weeks as gangs launched coordinated attacks on government institutions. The ongoing violence has led to a humanitarian crisis, with shortages of essential goods like food and medicine worsening the situation.
The transitional body has outlined three main priorities: security, constitutional and institutional reforms, and elections. In an effort to address the security challenges, the council plans to establish a National Security Council comprised of experts and specialists to oversee international security assistance agreements.
Despite facing numerous challenges, including recent attacks on the presidential palace by armed gangs, the new authorities are determined to work towards stabilizing the country and ensuring a peaceful transition of power. The international community, including the Caribbean Community (Caricom), is closely monitoring the situation and supporting efforts to restore stability and pave the way for democratic elections in Haiti.