On 24 November Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry swore in a new 18-member cabinet, which includes eight new appointments.
Analysis:
Henry took over Haiti’s leadership following the July assassination of President Jovenel Moïse (2017-2021) which plunged the country into further crisis. His unveiling of the new cabinet is the fruit of intense negotiations with members of the radical opposition Secteur Démocratique et Populaire (SDP) and other opposition parties, and follows an agreement announced in September with these groups to establish a transitional government. With the country facing a multifaceted security and political crisis – most recently evidenced by the gangs’ recent blockading of fuel supplies over demands for Henry to resign, the challenges facing the new government are enormous. As well as addressing the security situation, another key task is that of staging long overdue elections to elect Moïse’s successor (Moïse’s presidential term, according to the US and international community, ends on 7 February 2022, although the opposition maintains that it ended in February this year), as well as a referendum on a new constitution.
- New appointments include Jean Victor Géneus, a former minister for Haitians living abroad and ambassador in various posts, to replace foreign minister Claude Joseph, a political rival of Henry. Former education minister Nesmy Manigat (2014-2016) and former public health minister Alex Larsen (2008-2011) reprised their roles, while lawyer Berto Dorcé takes over as justice minister.
- Indicative of efforts to include opposition figures, other new appointments include Rosemond Pradel, secretary general of opposition party Fusion, a signatory of the September accord, who resumes his former post as public works minister which he held from 1993-1994, and Ricard Pierre, a former senator for the opposition Pitit Dessalines, who takes over as minister for planning & foreign cooperation.
- Other new appointments include Odney Pierre Ricot, a former director of programming and research at the social affairs ministry, who heads up the ministry and Raymonde Rival (youth & sports).
- Indicative of the pressure facing Henry, the previous day SDP wrote to him demanding to see the new cabinet list. The letter, which was circulated in the local press, recalled that SDP would not participate in a government “dominated by those who have destroyed the country for the past decade” – a reference to supporters of Moïse and Moïse’s mentor, former president Michel Martelly (2011-2016) both of the ruling Parti Haïtien Tèt Kale (PHTK).
- Those present at the inauguration included signatories of the 11 September accord including SDP leader André Michel and Sorel Jacinthe of the opposition party Inite, among others.
- It remains to be seen how gang leaders such as former police officer Jimmy Chérizier (who supported Moïse) respond to the latest announcement. Gangs last month began blocking access to major fuel terminals which Chérizier said would be lifted if Henry resigns. On 12 November Chérizier announced that this would be temporarily lifted to allow for Henry to resign and for a “week of reflection” among Haitians to commemorate the 18 November 1803 Battle of Vertières, a major battle of the Second War of Haitian Independence. He warned that the blockade would resume if Henry did not resign – a threat which has yet to be fulfilled.
Looking Ahead: Addressing the security crisis remains an immediate priority for the new government. This has made headlines following the kidnapping of 17 North American missionaries on 16 October, two of whom were released on 21 November. Also indicative of the worsening security situation, on 10 November the US embassy urged its citizens to leave Haiti and the following day the Canadian government announced that it was temporarily withdrawing non-essential Canadian employees as well as family members of Canadian embassy staff from Haiti.