US Embassy backs Prime Minister Fils-Aimé ahead of Haiti’s Feb. 7 transition deadline

PORT-AU-PRINCE — The United States Embassy in Haiti has reaffirmed its support for Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, sharpening Washington’s position as the country approaches the Feb. 7 expiration of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) mandate amid deep political deadlock.

“As the Transitional Presidential Council’s mandate ends on February 7, we support Prime Minister Fils-Aimé’s leadership in building a strong, prosperous, and free Haiti,” the U.S. Embassy, led by Chargé d’Affaires Henry Wooster, said in a statement issued Wednesday.

The endorsement came less than 24 hours after three CPT members adopted a resolution proposing a new executive authority to govern after Feb. 7. The plan calls for a three-member presidential council composed of a CPT representative, a judge from the Court of Cassation and a civil society leader, working alongside a prime minister.

The initiative was led by CPT members Edgard Leblanc, Leslie Voltaire and Gérald Gilles, following three days of internal discussions. It unfolded in parallel with negotiations led by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which have so far failed to produce a consensus. Other proposals under consideration include appointing a single judge from the Court of Cassation, forming a smaller governing body, or transferring authority to the Council of Ministers.

Political parties and civil society groups swiftly rejected the CPT-backed proposal, reiterating their opposition to any arrangement that allows the council — in whole or in part — to remain in power beyond Feb. 7.

“Any attempt to preserve the CPT, in whole or in part, amounts to a political diversion and a null and void decision,” the political party EDE said in a statement. “This body, widely criticized, illegitimate and unpopular, has gravely undermined a political transition that was initially intended to ease the population’s suffering.”

Washington’s show of support for Fils-Aimé also comes as U.S. pressure on Haitian political actors intensifies. In recent weeks, five CPT members and a Haitian cabinet minister were hit with U.S. visa restrictions after attempting to remove the prime minister — a move that drew sharp criticism from international partners.

The statement marks the latest in a series of U.S. actions amid Haiti’s worsening security and political crisis. It follows the recent deployment of U.S. naval vessels off the coast of Port-au-Prince and remarks by U.S. officials signaling a tougher stance toward armed gangs and those destabilizing the country.

Meanwhile, several political groups have continued to boycott CPT-led discussions on the post–Feb. 7 transition, arguing that the council lacks the credibility to mediate or justify any extension of its mandate. For many Haitians, the transition is widely viewed as a failure, leaving the country’s political future uncertain as the deadline approaches.

The CPT was created under an April 2024 political accord following the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry. It was tasked with restoring security, organizing elections, reviving the economy and advancing constitutional reforms. Nearly two years later, critics from across the political spectrum describe the council as costly, corrupt and incapable of reversing Haiti’s deepening crisis.

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