Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille fired by transitional council

Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Haiti's ruling transitional council has fired Prime Minister Garry Conille, six months after the doctor and former UNICEF Latin America head was appointed to lead the troubled nation.

An executive order published Monday by the official Le Moniteur states that Alix Didier Fils-Aime, 52, Haiti's former Chamber of Commerce president, has been chosen to replace Conille.

The executive order was signed by eight of the nine council members

However, Conille was quick to question the legality of the order, stating that while the council has the power appoint the prime minister, only Parliament has the power to dismiss one.

"As Prime Minister, but above all as a Haitian citizen, I choose, out of patriotism, not to respond to this situation by division, but rather by way of responsibility," he said in a letter.

"I remain committed to continuing to work constructively for peace and stability in our country and to support all efforts to restore peace and ensure democratic, transparent and inclusive governance."

Besieged by gang violence, the Hispaniola Island nation has suffered through a political vacuum since President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in July of 2021.

Conille was appointed prime minister of Haiti in June by the nation's nine-member transitional council, which was formed after Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned as gang violence subsumed the capital of Port-au-Prince.

Conille, 58, was expected to work with the council toward holding presidential elections next year.

According to a U.N. report from late September, at least 2,661 people have been killed in Haiti since January due to escalating gang violence.

Following the announcement, the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince on Monday issued a statement urging U.S. citizens not to travel to Haiti, as it is aware of reports of possible protest and civil unrest in the coming week.