USA / HAITI – The presence of Haiti’s prime minister today underscores the “strong commitment” of the Haitian authorities to engage with the Council “at this critical juncture”, said Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the Secretary General’s Special Representative for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH).
Indeed, BINUH, the UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH) and the Gang Suppression Force have established a strong relationship to support Haiti’s efforts towards stability and the restoration of democratic institutions.
In his January briefing, he noted that Haiti was entering a decisive phase, requiring sustained efforts across the political and security tracks.
“This phase is clearly now fully underway,” he affirmed. Haiti today stands at “a pivotal moment” he said, where political and institutional progress is laying the foundations for a credible path forward.
On the political front, he said the transfer of executive authority on 7 February to the Council of Ministers, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, “ensured institutional continuity at a moment of significant vulnerability.”
As well, the National Pact for Stability and Organization of Elections – signed by hundreds of political and civil society organisations – has created a broader Haitian-led political framework, one that reflects “a collective commitment to steer the transition and reinforce national cohesion.”
The Security Council addresses the deepening crisis in Haiti on Wednesday, centered on the secretary-general’s latest report which highlights a security landscape of both intensified enforcement and rising civilian risk.
While operations including by the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force between December and February resulted in the deaths of 1,343 suspected gang members, the humanitarian cost remains staggering.
As prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé joins ambassadors in the chamber, discussion is expected to confront the reality that stability remains a long way off.
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