New Haitian PM takes office as gang violence intensifies in capital: Video

Fils-Aime replaces Garry Conille, who was ousted by Haiti's nine-member transitional council amid a power struggle.

In his first public remarks, Fils-Aime acknowledged the severe challenges facing the nation, particularly the alarming rise in gang violence that has paralyzed the capital, Port-au-Prince.

"We have a transition with lots of work to do: the first essential job, which is a condition for success, is restoring security," AFP quoted Fils-Aime. He pledged to dedicate his "energy, skills, and patriotism" to the national cause, recognizing the country's "difficult circumstances."

Fils-Aime's appointment comes at a time of heightened instability in Haiti, which has been without a president since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021.

The country is also without a functioning parliament, and the last elections were held in 2016. The political vacuum, combined with ongoing poverty, natural disasters, and escalating gang violence, has left the Caribbean nation in crisis.

The violence took a dramatic turn in February when armed gangs launched coordinated attacks in Port-au-Prince, reportedly to overthrow then-prime minister Ariel Henry.

Henry, who was unelected and increasingly unpopular, stepped down as gang-led chaos swept through the capital. A transitional council, supported by the United States and regional allies, assumed power, but violence has continued to escalate, with gangs controlling around 80 per cent of Port-au-Prince.

The situation remains dire, with a recent United Nations report stating that over 1,200 people were killed between July and September, as gang-related violence surged.

The gangs are now using more advanced tactics, including drones, and have fortified their territories with weapons and explosives. Reports indicate that more than 700,000 people, including 350,000 children, have been displaced due to the violence.