The decision, sparking debate over its legality, comes just six months after Conille’s appointment, and some political figures argue it sidesteps constitutional norms.

   Conille, 58, is a seasoned development expert with United Nations experience. This marks his second forced departure from Haiti’s highest government office. In 2012, he resigned under pressure from then-President Michel Martelly after only four months as prime minister.

   Current CPT chair Leslie Voltaire, an urban planner and representative of the Fanmi Lavalas party, led the push for Conille’s removal, according to reports.

   An executive order to formalize the replacement was intended for publication in Haiti’s official gazette, Le Moniteur, on Monday, but leaked a day early. Eight of the council’s nine members signed the order. Former Sen. Edgard Leblanc Fils, who recently led the council, abstained.

   According to a recent UNICEF report, over a quarter of schools in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince are still unable to function.

Jul. 23, 2024

   Fils-Aimé, 52, returned to Haiti from an overseas trip on Sunday, following the council’s deliberations on his appointment.

   Amid the political transition, Conille has signaled his intent to contest the legality of his dismissal.

   In a letter to Le Moniteur, he argued that the CPT lacks authority to remove him, asserting that only the Haitian Parliament can do so, a body currently inactive amid Haiti’s constitutional crisis. Conille warned the national press against publishing the council’s decree, calling it “illegal.”

   Under normal circumstances, the Haitian Constitution mandates that Parliament, not an interim council, would hold the authority to replace a prime minister. However, with no functioning Parliament or democratically elected leaders in place, the council has operated in a legal gray area as it manages Haiti’s transition toward stability and elections.

   In May, the CPT appointed Conille after reviewing several candidates, including Fils-Aimé, but divisions soon emerged. Conille’s insistence on cabinet stability and his resistance to reshuffling amid bribery allegations against some council members have further strained relations.

   Diplomatic attempts to mediate, including from the Organization of American States, have so far failed to resolve the rift.

   As Haiti grapples with humanitarian and security crises exacerbated by gang violence, the political upheaval adds uncertainty to an already fragile governance framework.