Haiti: CARICOM Brings Actors Together for a Way Out of the Current Crisis

One week before the end of the mandate of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), scheduled for February 7, 2026, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has intensified its diplomatic efforts in Haiti. A crucial meeting was held this Friday, January 30, 2026, between CARICOM's group of eminent persons, the signatories of the April 3 agreement, and non-signatory actors, amidst strong political tensions and growing rejection of mediation mechanisms perceived as externally imposed. A Meeting of High Political Significance According to reports, the meeting began around 4:50 PM, with successive interventions from two Haitian political figures, Rosemond Pradel, former Minister of Public Works (TPTC) and member of the Espace de réflexion, and Claude Joseph, former Prime Minister, representing the Political Consensus for National Recovery. Rosemond Pradel advocated for a Haitian solution to the crisis, while emphasizing the need to consider both the cyclical factors related to the security and institutional emergency and the deep structural causes of the collapse of the Haitian state. For his part, former Prime Minister Claude Joseph also spoke of a Haitian solution, but framed by international institutions and organizations, notably citing CARICOM, BINUH, the OAS, and the OIF. He also proposed expanding the discussion table to include other political and social groups to foster greater inclusion in the crisis resolution process. After lively exchanges, the various protagonists agreed to extend discussions for three days to reach an agreement in principle on the prerequisites of the current situation, noting the end of the CPT's mandate on February 7, 2026. Held under the auspices of CARICOM, the meeting will resume next Tuesday at the request of several actors, including Rony Desroches, Jean Renel Sénatus, and Me André Michel. An Increasingly Contested Mediation This CARICOM initiative comes amidst a climate of increased distrust. In a note published on January 29, 2026, the Lapè Pou Ayiti movement rejected any new mediation by the regional organization, denouncing its desire to bring back into the political spotlight the same actors who participated in the establishment of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT). The movement believes that this mechanism, described as externally imposed, has contributed to the worsening of insecurity, the humanitarian crisis, and corruption, notably citing millions of internally displaced persons and acute food insecurity affecting a large segment of the population. Lapè Pou Ayiti calls for a strictly Haitian mediation, which should lead to free and credible elections. The CPT Maintains the February 7 Deadline Despite these divisions, Leslie Voltaire, a member of the Transitional Presidential Council, reaffirmed that the Transitional Presidential Council will leave office on February 7, 2026. He expressed confidence that political actors will reach an agreement before this date, allowing for a transition he hopes will be « orderly ». In a statement marked by both a solemn and political tone, Leslie Voltaire insisted on the necessity of dialogue and civic courage, calling to « write a Haitian solution » and pave the way for democratic elections. He also denounced the attitude of the international community, which he accuses of supporting Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, even though five of the seven voting members of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) had adopted a resolution in favor of his dismissal. Between International Pressure and the Demand for Sovereignty As February 7 approaches, the meeting between CARICOM and Haitian political actors highlights a persistent fault line: on one side, those who believe that international support remains necessary; on the other, those who consider that any lasting solution must be conceived, championed, and owned exclusively by Haitians. While CARICOM hopes to facilitate a last-minute political consensus, the distrust of a segment of the political class and civil society casts uncertainty over the outcome of these discussions, in a country still grappling with a deep multidimensional crisis. Jean Wesley Pierre / Le Relief