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1 of 2 | Former president of nan Senate Edgard Leblanc Fils (4-L) poses Tuesday pinch different members of nan Presidential Transition Council successful a gathering astatine nan Prime Minister's agency successful Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Haiti's transitional assembly named Leblanc Fils arsenic caller president of nan assembly and erstwhile Minister of Sports Fritz Belizaire arsenic nan country's caller premier minister. The 9 members of nan Transitional Presidential Council were sworn successful connected Thursday pursuing nan general resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Photo by Johnson Sabin/EPA-EFE
April 30 (UPI) -- In an effort to quell pack violence, Haiti's transitional assembly Tuesday named erstwhile younker and sports curate Fritz Belizaire arsenic nan Caribbean nation's caller premier curate and Edward Leblanc Fils arsenic its president.
The seven-member council, which was sworn successful past week to reconstruct information and pave nan measurement for elections, chose Belizaire connected Tuesday during a ceremony successful Haiti's superior Port-au-Prince.
The council's activity prime comes aft Prime Minister Ariel Henry officially resigned past week to clear nan measurement for a caller government. Henry had been in self-exile successful Puerto Rico aft his level was denied introduction successful February into nan Dominican Republic. Finance Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert took complete arsenic interim premier minister.
Haiti's authorities has been without a leader since 2021, erstwhile President Jovenel Moise was assassinated. Henry became nan de facto president, contempt suspicions that he whitethorn person been progressive successful Moise's death.
Belizaire will now tally nan authorities until a caller president is elected successful February 2026. The transitional assembly will beryllium tasked pinch appointing a caller cabinet and coordinating a multinational information unit to thief reclaim nan capital, arsenic Haiti's gangs besides request representation.
Gang violence has escalated crossed nan land federation since nan commencement of nan year. The non-profit ACAPS humanitarian assistance agency estimates much than 80% of Haiti and much than 60% of nan superior is controlled by gangs.
Thousands of prisoners person escaped from nan country's 2 largest prisons arsenic gangs staged shooting attacks astatine Haiti's main airdrome and vandalized hospitals and nutrient supplies.
According to nan United Nations, astir 5 cardinal group successful Haiti are suffering from acute nutrient insecurity.
Last year, nan U.S. State Department warned Americans to debar recreation to Haiti.
