Haiti stands at a critical juncture in its political history as the private sector assumes leadership of the presidency. Laurent Saint-Cyr, a prominent businessman, is set to be inaugurated as the president of the Transitional Presidential Council on August 7, 2025. This marks an unprecedented step, with the private sector controlling both executive branches of government for the first time. This power transfer occurs against a backdrop of severely deteriorating security, characterized by escalating gang violence and kidnappings, casting a dark shadow over the nation's future.
The situation in Haiti is alarming. Between April and June 2025, gang violence resulted in 1,520 deaths and 609 injuries, according to the UN Integrated Office in Haiti. This violence has led to mass internal displacement, with nearly 1.3 million people displaced as of June 2025, a 24% increase since December 2024, marking the highest number ever recorded. Gangs, including the Viv Ansanm federation led by Jimmy Chérizier, alias "Barbecue," control an estimated 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and are expanding their influence. The crisis has also impacted humanitarian efforts, with eight individuals, including Irish missionary Gena Heraty and a three-year-old child, kidnapped from the Sainte-Hélène orphanage on August 3, 2025. The managing organization, Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs, has closed its institutions in protest. International efforts, such as the Kenya-led UN-supported mission, have had limited success, with over 600 Kenyan officers deployed. The United States has expressed concern over reported bribery attempts to destabilize Haiti and commended the transitional council for rejecting corruption, though political instability and internal conflicts within the council remain significant concerns. The transition to private sector leadership occurs amidst widespread unrest, with gangs threatening to overthrow the government, underscoring the immense challenges ahead in restoring security and stability.