January 29, 2026
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Landau issued an unequivocal warning today, stating that “anyone who obstructs Haiti’s path to political stability should expect consequences,” including visa revocations. He noted that “criminal gangs have terrorized Haiti for years” and that the situation “worsened last week,” provoking calls for an open war against the central state.
In his statement, Landau said the United States and several international partners are “fed up with the violence and destruction caused by gangs, as well as political infighting.” He urged Haitian leaders to “unite against a common threat,” emphasizing that the country has no remaining margin for internal political games.
This firm warning comes as the Transitional Presidential Council is maneuvering to increase its control over the executive branch ahead of February 7, 2026, the expiration date of its mandate. Internal discussions focus on replacing Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, who is nonetheless viewed as a stabilizing figure in an already weakened government.
Behind the scenes of the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC), the names Arnoux Descardes and Alfred Fils Métellus are frequently cited as possible replacements. But Landau’s intervention casts doubt on these ambitions, suggesting that a sudden change would be interpreted as a political maneuver likely to worsen the crisis.
