Fritz Alphonse Jean Takes Helm of Haiti's Transitional Council

Fritz Alphonse Jean, an economist and former central bank governor, has assumed the presidency of Haiti's transitional presidential council amid escalating gang violence that has led to widespread internal displacement. He succeeds Leslie Voltaire during a ceremony in Port-au-Prince, where he called for national unity to address the security crisis, describing the situation as a 'war' against criminal gangs that control approximately 85% of the capital. Jean has proposed a 'war-adjusted budget' and plans to recruit 3,000 new police and military personnel, while also enhancing oversight to combat corruption. Despite the partial deployment of a U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan troops, gang influence continues to grow, prompting the U.N. to recommend a hybrid peacekeeping model dependent on reducing gang control. The transitional council aims to organize long-delayed elections by February 2026, although concerns about legitimizing gang leaders persist. Jean's leadership comes at a critical time as Haiti grapples with significant violence, with over 5,600 reported deaths in 2024 alone.