Wealthy businessman takes helm of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council

On Thursday, Laurent Saint-Cyr, a wealthy businessman, was sworn in as head of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council, charged with restoring order in a country beset by violence and political turmoil.

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His appointment marks the first time members of Haiti’s private sector hold both the rotating presidency and prime minister positions, sharing executive duties in a government struggling to regain control.

Saint-Cyr took office at the council’s heavily guarded headquarters in Port-au-Prince, a capital city where criminal gangs now control 90% of neighborhoods. Reflecting on the country’s crisis during his swearing-in, Saint-Cyr said, “Our country is going through one of the greatest crises in all its history. It’s not the time for beautiful speeches. It’s time to act.”

His new leadership faces immediate threats. Hours before Saint-Cyr’s appointment, Jimmy Chérizier—known as “Barbecue,” leader of the powerful Viv Ansanm gang federation—issued a stark warning in a social media video. Wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying an automatic rifle, Chérizier urged residents to allow his armed group free passage through neighborhoods as they sought to advance on the council’s office.

“People of Haiti, take care of yourselves and help us … in the battle to free the country,” Chérizier said.

Gunfire broke out in several parts of the capital, underscoring the fragile security situation. A U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police reported that officers thwarted planned attacks through around-the-clock patrols and increased deployment around key infrastructure. The mission stated, “Armed gangs had plotted to disrupt national stability and render the country ungovernable.”

Saint-Cyr, formerly president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Haiti and the country’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will work alongside Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, a former internet company executive and fellow Chamber of Commerce president. Saint-Cyr expressed gratitude to national and international partners and emphasized the role of the private sector as “the engine of the country’s economy.” Despite his private-sector background, he pledged to serve “all people equally.”

Security remains a top priority. Saint-Cyr called on Haiti’s armed forces to intensify operations and appealed to international partners for more troops, training, and resources to support a mission currently stretched thin.

“We must restore state authority,” he said. “The challenges we face are certainly linked to insecurity, but they also are the result of our lack of courage, a lack of vision and our irresponsibility.” He also questioned the government’s failure to provide essential services, telling the prime minister, “Mister prime minister, assume your responsibilities!”

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As Saint-Cyr was sworn in, warnings circulated on social media urging residents to stay vigilant amid ongoing violence. One message cautioned, “Those of you in the capital, you will hear gunshots both ahead of you and behind you. Remain on guard!”

Local news outlet Tripotay Lakay reported that one person was killed and another injured while entering Port-au-Prince on Thursday; the circumstances remain unclear. Videos circulating online showed a woman slumped in a vehicle. Heavy gunfire and small explosions from police drones were also reported in downtown areas, while violence spread to Kenscoff, a farming region once known for peace.

The U.N.-backed mission disclosed it recently lost two armored vehicles trapped in trenches dug by gangs and that Kenyan police officers came under Molotov cocktail attacks but “courageously held their ground, inflicting significant damage on the assailants.” Three officers sustained minor injuries.

In its latest report, the mission revealed its personnel count stands at 991—far short of the 2,500 envisioned—and its trust fund holds roughly $112 million, only 14% of the estimated $800 million needed annually. The mission also faces equipment shortages, lacking air support and sufficient vehicles to deploy more than 200 officers at a time.

The report warned that “partisan infighting within the transitional government has had the effect of paralyzing the government and emboldening the gangs,” leaving Haiti’s future uncertain as it confronts escalating insecurity and governance challenges.