UN development specialist Garry Conille has officially assumed the role of Haiti’s Prime Minister, arriving in Port-au-Prince on Saturday. Conille, who previously served as UNICEF’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean since January 2023, brings a wealth of experience from various UN positions. Notably, he had been appointed as Haiti’s prime minister once before, from October 2011 to May 2012, following the devastating 2010 earthquake.
This latest appointment was confirmed by the Transitional Presidential Council of Haiti, which voted 6-1 to install Conille, replacing interim prime minister Michel Patrick Boisvert. Boisvert had held the position since Ariel Henry’s resignation in March 2024. Edgard LeBlanc Fils, president of the Council, announced the decision on May 29, 2024, after thorough deliberation (Edgard LeBlanc Fils announcement). The appointment has been met with a cooperative response from international stakeholders, including the United States (U.S. response).
Haiti remains embroiled in escalating gang violence following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, pushing the country into chaos. In response, the Haitian government extended a state of emergency earlier this year. The United Nations has warned that continued instability is leading to severe violations against women and girls (UN warning).
In a bid to curb the surging violence, Haiti recently secured a security agreement with Kenya, involving the deployment of 1,000 police officers. Accepting his new role, Conille has committed to addressing these pressing issues and pledged to protect children’s rights in Haiti (Conille’s commitment).
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