Overview
- After nearly two years in office, the nine-member Transitional Presidential Council stepped down on Feb. 7, transferring executive power to Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.
- Fils-Aimé said he is immediately getting to work and plans to address the nation after convening a cabinet meeting.
- Armed gangs control roughly 90% of Port-au-Prince, and long-promised general elections did not take place on Feb. 7 as once envisioned.
- The United States deployed a warship and two Coast Guard vessels near the capital and revoked visas for several council members and a cabinet minister, while publicly backing Fils-Aimé.
- A previous move by influential council members to oust the prime minister was set aside with the council’s resignation, as talks now focus on a successor arrangement and a revamped multinational security mission.