Crime & Justice

Former police chief Mario Andrésol installed as Haiti’s secretary of public security 

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Former police chief Mario Andrésol installed as Haiti’s secretary of public security 
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PORT-AU-PRINCE — The former Director General of the Haitian National Police (PNH), Mario Andrésol, was sworn in Tuesday as Haiti’s new Secretary of State for Public Security. He has returned to lead the country’s security system after 13 years away from public service. The installation ceremony was held at the Prime Minister’s office in Musseau, Port-au-Prince. The transitional government bets on Andrésol’s past experience at the helm of the PNH to help restore security and order in the face of criminal gang activities.

Andrésol’s return comes as Haiti grapples with gang control over more than 80% of Port-au-Prince and widespread violence that left over 5,600 dead, 2,212 injured and 700,000 displaced in 2024, according to UN reports. Additionally,  nearly 1,500 kidnapping cases were recorded last year. Despite international intervention, including a Kenya-led multinational force deployed last June to support Haitian police, progress has been slow, with only 572 out of 2,500 promised personnel currently on the ground.

As gang violence continues to escalate, the Haitian government has made key changes to its security leadership. Following the reappointment of Rameau Normil as the Director General of the PNH, Andrésol, another seasoned police leader, has been tasked with restoring stability in a nation overwhelmed by insecurity.

From From left to right: Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé; President of the Transitional Presidential Council, Leslie Voltaire; presenting the decree of appointment to the Secretary of State for Public Security, Mario Andrésol, during his installation by the Minister of Justice and Public Security at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Musseau, Port-au-Prince, on January 14, 2025. Photo by Dieugo André for The Haitian Times.

His tenure as police chief from 2005 to 2012 is widely regarded as successful, particularly in containing gang activity with the support of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). During his installation, Andresol emphasized the importance of national unity to address the country’s worsening security crisis.

“Mario Andrésol, known for his experience and determination, will have the ministry’s full support in the fight against insecurity,” Patrick Pélissier, the Minister of Justice and Public Security, said in a speech as he installed the former head of the Haitian police.

 “The time is for concrete actions to allow the population to go about their activities freely.”

Mario Andrésol, Haiti’s new Secretary of State for Public Security

For Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, who was present at the installation, “this appointment illustrates the government’s strong will to tackle the nation’s security challenges.”

“Public security is and will remain the foundation upon which we will build a stable, prosperous, and united Haiti,” Fils-Aimé said, echoing Andrésol’s call for unity among all actors to tackle the rampant gang-fueled insecurity.

Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé shakes hands with the new Secretary of State for Public Security, Mario Andrésol, in front of the President of the Transitional Presidential Council during the installation ceremony. Photo by Dieugo André for The Haitian Times.

“The time is for concrete actions to allow the population to go about their activities freely,” said Andrésol during his swearing-in ceremony.

“This is the time for sacrifice, creation, and transcendence; only at this price will we succeed in pulling our country out of this abyss and restoring it to its rightful place among nations.”

A seasoned leader in security governance

Andrésol is no stranger to the complexities of Haiti’s security challenges. A graduate of the Haitian Military Academy (1984), he has also undergone specialized training in the United States and at France’s National Gendarmerie Officer School in Melun. Before leading the PNH, he served as an infantry officer in the Haitian Armed Forces (FADH), rising to the rank of captain before the military was disbanded in 1995 by former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The new Secretary of State for Public Security, Mario Andrésol, had a brief exchange with the current Director General of the Haitian National Police, Rameau Normil, during a photo-op session at the Secretary’s installation by the Minister of Justice and Public Security at the official residence of the Prime Minister in Musseau, Port-au-Prince, on January 14, 2025. Photo by Dieugo André for The Haitian Times.

He joined the newly formed PNH shortly after 1995, holding various leadership positions, including Director of the Central Judicial Police (DCPJ) in 2001, before being appointed as the Director General of the institution in 2005. Andrésol’s leadership helped bolster police capabilities during a critical period, with the PNH growing from 5,500 officers in 2004 to over 9,000 by 2008. Arrest rates also increased significantly, reflecting a concerted effort to assist judicial authorities in combating crime and impunity.

Public reactions to Andrésol’s appointment

Opinions about Andrésol’s return are generally positive, with many citing his track record as a reason for cautious optimism.

“I think the choice of Andésol is based on his positive track record at the head of the PNH,” said a supermarket manager in Port-au-Prince, speaking with The Haitian Times on the condition of anonymity. 

From left to right: Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, President of the Transitional Presidential Council Leslie Voltaire, Minister of Justice and Public Security Patrick Pélissier, Minister of Defense Jean-Michel Moïse, the new Secretary of State for Public Security Mario Andrésol, and the Director General of the Police, Rameau Normil, showing their champagne glasses at the ceremony on January 14, 2025. Photo by Dieugo André for The Haitian Times.

“Now that he has been appointed,” he said, “we are waiting for an agreement between him and the Director General of the Police, as well as convincing results against the insecurity.”

A social sciences student at the State University of Haiti (UEH), who also requested anonymity due to safety concerns, shared a similar sentiment. “I think Andrésol is a good choice because he knows the terrain well. We’ll wait to see what this will bring.”

The following are some photos from the installation ceremony of the new Secretary of State for Public Security, Mario Andrésol, who led the Haitian National Police from 2005 to 2012. All photos by Dieugo André for The Haitian Times.

The post Former police chief Mario Andrésol installed as Haiti’s secretary of public security  appeared first on The Haitian Times.


Former police chief Mario Andrésol installed as Haiti’s secretary of public security  was first posted on January 15, 2025 at 5:28 pm.

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