Garry Conille Named Haiti's New Prime Minister Amid Escalating Gang Violence

Garry Conille during his time as Haiti's prime minister, in Port-au-Prince in 2011

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI – Garry Conille, a U.N. development specialist, has been appointed as Haiti's new prime minister, nearly a month after a coalition within the fractured transitional council sought to choose another candidate. This appointment comes as gang violence continues to plague the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Conille, currently UNICEF’s regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, previously served as Haiti’s prime minister from October 2011 to May 2012 under then-President Michel Martelly. He succeeds Michel Patrick Boisvert, who was interim prime minister following Ariel Henry's resignation in April.

The appointment was confirmed by council member Louis Gérald Gilles, who stated that six out of seven voting members selected Conille. One member, Laurent St. Cyr, did not vote as he was not in Haiti.

Conille's return to leadership comes at a critical time. Gangs have intensified their reign of terror in Port-au-Prince, using heavy machinery to demolish police stations and prisons. Conille faces the dual challenge of restoring security and addressing Haiti's severe economic woes, with inflation at a record 29%.

Conille’s background in medicine and public health, and his experience with the United Nations, position him well to address Haiti's current crises. He helped coordinate reconstruction efforts following the devastating 2010 earthquake and has been a significant figure in health care development in impoverished Haitian communities.

Despite his qualifications, Conille's task is daunting. Gangs control approximately 80% of Port-au-Prince, displacing over 360,000 people and disrupting key transportation routes. His immediate priority will be to quell the violence while steering Haiti out of deep poverty.

The selection of Conille followed a controversial process. In April, a four-member coalition within the nine-member transitional council unexpectedly chose former sports minister Fritz Bélizaire, which many criticized as improper. The subsequent decision to select Conille aimed to rectify the procedural issues.

The Montana Accord, a Haitian civil society group, has criticized the council for a lack of transparency and ineffective measures since its installation. They argue that the council has failed to mitigate the suffering of the Haitian people amid escalating gang violence.

Liné Balthazar, president of the Tet Kale party, also called for transparency in the council's selection process, describing it as improvised.

Besides appointing the prime minister, the transitional council must establish a provisional electoral commission to facilitate elections by the end of next year. The council's mandate expires on February 7, 2026, when a new president is expected to be sworn in.

Conille’s appointment brings hope for stability, but the road ahead is fraught with challenges. The international community and Haitian citizens alike will be watching closely as he takes on the formidable task of leading Haiti through its current turmoil.