Haiti’s political crisis deepened on Friday as two top leaders confirmed plans to remove Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime, despite warnings from the United States that such a move could have serious consequences.
Transitional Presidential Council member Leslie Voltaire said the council, which appointed Fils-Aime in November 2024, has the authority to issue a new decree naming a prime minister, government, and presidency. “We are the ones who appointed Didier Fils-Aime. We worked with him for a year. It is up to us to decide on a new government,” Voltaire said at a press conference.
The council acts as Haiti’s top executive body. It was formed in 2024 to oversee the country’s first election in a decade. However, elections have been repeatedly delayed due to a collapse in security, fueled by ongoing clashes with heavily armed gangs.
Fils-Aime, speaking at a police event later on Friday, rejected the planned ouster. He warned that neither “criminals wearing ties or criminals wearing flip flops” would dictate the law. He added that anyone opposing the police or the state would face a firm response “without weakness, without compromise.”
U.S. officials have pushed back against the council’s plan. U.S. Charge d’Affaires Henry Wooster emphasized that Fils-Aime must remain in office to continue the fight against gangs. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also called Fils-Aime, urging him to stay in his post for the country’s stability. Rubio warned that politicians who violate the council’s mandate could face “a steep cost.”
Currently, five of the nine council members support removing Fils-Aime. Four of these members confirmed their signatures to local outlets. However, the resolution has not yet been published in Haiti’s official gazette, a required step for the decision to become legally valid.
Voltaire and fellow council member Edgard Leblanc Fils said they plan to replace Fils-Aime within 30 days, following established procedures. Voltaire added that a short “pause” would allow political groups to propose a succession plan. If no consensus emerges, the council will determine the governance structure itself.
Both Voltaire and Leblanc criticized U.S. comments, calling them disrespectful to Haiti’s sovereignty. The council’s term, beginning in April 2024, has been marked by internal disputes, corruption allegations, and worsening security conditions.
Last year, a Haitian court dismissed corruption charges against three council members, ruling they were protected by their governing status. Two of these members signed the resolution to remove Fils-Aime but were excluded from the rotating presidency roster.
Supporters of Fils-Aime’s ouster have proposed Finance Minister Alfred Metellus as a potential replacement. Metellus, a veteran of Haiti’s public sector, previously worked as a consultant for the Inter-American Development Bank.
Haiti faces mounting political instability as gang violence continues to spread. The move to remove Fils-Aime highlights the deep divisions within the country’s leadership and raises questions about the timing and legitimacy of any transition, particularly under U.S. scrutiny.
The council’s mandate ends on February 7, but no official succession plan is in place. With elections delayed and public confidence low, the country remains vulnerable to both political and security crises. Analysts warn that how the council proceeds could determine whether Haiti stabilizes or faces further unrest.