Fritz Alphonse Jean Sworn in as President of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council

Fritz Alphonse Jean, an economist and former central bank chief, was sworn in as president of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) on Friday, succeeding Leslie Voltaire of the Fanmi Lavalas party. Voltaire’s five-month tenure was marked by escalating security issues.

The handover ceremony at Villa d’Accueil in Port-au-Prince was attended by diplomatic and government officials.

Jean, in his speech, declared, “Today our country is at war, and it is imperative we unite to win.” He committed to a “corrective war budget” and plans to train over 3,000 new police and military recruits this year to address significant personnel shortages.

Despite US$227 million (9 percent of Haiti’s 2024/25 budget) allocated for the national police, it remains underfunded and ill-equipped. A U.N.-backed mission, including roughly 1,000 Kenyan troops, has been deployed to assist, but gangs continue to expand their control, displacing hundreds of thousands.

Over 1 million people are now internally displaced, nearly 10 percent of Haiti’s population.

The U.N. recently stated that Haiti’s request for a stronger peacekeeping force is not feasible unless gang control is significantly reduced, proposing a hybrid model to bolster limited security support.

Jean reaffirmed his commitment to holding elections by the February 2026 constitutional deadline, a move supported by the U.S., but criticized by opponents who fear it may empower gang leaders.

Voltaire described the transition as taking place in “an atmosphere of mutual respect, friendship, solidarity, and continuity.”

Jean’s term runs until August 7, after which businessman Laurent Saint-Cyr is set to take over until the February 2026 deadline. The transitional council, introduced in April 2024, has faced criticism from various groups, including top police unions, for failing to address the ongoing violence.