Haitian prime minister reshuffles cabinet after securing political backing

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé officially reshuffled his government Tuesday, appointing 12 new ministers and retaining six after securing support from more than 100 political groups that recognize him as the country’s sole executive authority.

The changes were approved during a Council of Ministers meeting following the signing of a National Pact on Security and the Organization of Elections between the prime minister and several major political parties and platforms, including Fanmi Lavalas of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Parti Haïtien Tèt Kale (PHTK) of former President Joseph Michel Martelly and Les Engagés pour le Développement of former Prime Minister Claude Joseph and the December 21 Accord and allies aligned with former Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

In a statement posted on X, the head of Haiti’s government praised outgoing ministers for their “sense of duty, responsibility and political maturity.”

“In a particularly demanding national context, they demonstrated selflessness, commitment, and a spirit of sacrifice in service of the state,” the Haitian prime minister said.

The reshuffle follows Fils-Aimé’s participation in the 50th CARICOM meeting, where he said international partners welcomed the new political agreements.

The new transitional government succeeds the Presidential Transition Council (CPT) and pledges to continue efforts to curb insecurity, revise the constitution, organize general elections in 2026 and assist victims of the country’s worsening humanitarian crisis.

Haiti remains mired in gang violence that has killed thousands and displaced an estimated 1.4 million people. Armed groups control roughly 90% of the capital, severely restricting movement and economic activity.

The 18-member cabinet includes five women and 13 men, maintaining the same level of female representation as the previous administration but falling short of the 30% quota mandated by Haiti’s 2012 constitutional amendment in Article 17-1.

Pending publication of official decrees, the new appointees are expected to assume their posts during the transition.

New ministers

The 12 new ministers are:

• Dumas Pithagore, Youth, Sports and Civic Action
  
• Emmanuel Ménard, Culture and Communication
  
• Joseph Almathe Pierre-Louis, Public Works, Transport and Communication
  
• Marc-Élie Nelson, Social Affairs and Labor
  
• Marcelin Aubourg, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development
  
• Mario Andrésol, Defense
  
• Valéry Fils-Aimé, Environment
  
• Raina Forbin, Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs
  
• Sandra Paulemon, Planning and External Cooperation
  
• Stéphanie Smith, Tourism
  
• Vijonet Déméro, National Education and Professional Training
  
• Serge Gabriel Collin, Economy and Finance
  

Reappointed ministers

Six ministers retained from the previous cabinet are:

• J.E. Kathia Verdier, Haitians Living Abroad
  
• James Monazard, Commerce and Industry
  
• Patrick Pélissier, Justice and Public Security
  
• Paul Antoine Bien-Aimé, Interior and Territorial Collectivities
  
• Pédrica St-Jean, Status and Rights of Women
  
• Sinal Bertrand, Public Health and Population
  

Jean Willio Patrick Chrispin was appointed Secretary of State for Communication and head of the National Civil Aviation Office. The government also named new directors general for several state agencies, including the Electricity and Rehabilitation Fund, the Office of Third-Party Vehicle Insurance, the National Solid Waste Management Service and the National Airport Authority.

Under the national pact, the transitional government has no fixed term-mandate or a check-and-balance institution. Haiti currently has no elected national leaders. According to the Provisional Electoral Council’s calendar, general elections are scheduled for August and December 2026. A budget for this electoral process has not yet been disclosed, and insecurity remains a major obstacle.

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