December 23, 2024
Washington DC – On July 2, 2024, Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille, accompanied by his Minister of Foreign Affairs and others, was received by US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in the Thomas Jefferson Room. This is Prime Minister Conille’s first mission trip since he took office as Prime Minister of Haiti. Prime Minister Conille is well known in international circles for having served as director of UNICEF for Latin America. In August 2020, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed him as UN Resident Coordinator in Jamaica, with the approval of the host country government.
Prime Minister Conille’s trip comes days after Haiti received the long-awaited Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS).
Although no details are known about his agenda or his trip, it appears that Prime Minister Conille is seeking support from the United States and its allies to restore security in Haiti, particularly in the capital where the UN reports that around 80% is controlled by gangs. According to the UN, widespread insecurity has led to 578,074 internal displacements in 2024, including more than 310,000 women and girls and 180,000 children, more than double the 2022 figure. This situation is exacerbated by an acute humanitarian crisis leaving nearly 5 million people food insecure.
According to an official State Department press release, “…the multinational security support mission to assist the Haitian National Police in regaining full control of critical parts of Port-au-Prince and the country…” However, despite the presence of this mission, gangs managed to attack and take control of two police stations located approximately 30 minutes from each other in the space of two days. During the second attack, the gangs also kidnapped Father Emmanuel Saintéliat, priest of the Saint Jean Baptiste de Gressier parish.
The appointment of Dr. Conille as Prime Minister of Haiti comes at the head of the Agreement of April 3, 2024, article 1.2 of which stipulates that the three priorities of the transition are security, constitutional and institutional reforms, and elections. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken also echoed these same priorities.
Before their meeting, Prime Minister Conille thanked Secretary of State Blinken, President Biden, and the American people for their support and solidarity. While Prime Minister Conille does not underestimate the challenges he faces, he also says he is confident that with the establishment of the presidential council and the establishment of this new government, they will be able to meet these challenges head-on.