The light in Port-au-Prince this weekend settled softly over wide boulevards and narrow streets, revealing a city accustomed to moments that arrive without ceremony. Governance here has often moved in pauses rather than declarations, shaped as much by absence as by authority. For nearly two years, a nine-member presidential council occupied the fragile center of Haiti’s political life, holding together a framework intended to guide the country toward long-delayed elections.

That framework has now quietly dissolved. The council’s departure followed a tenure marked by internal divisions, public skepticism, and circumstances that resisted structure. Created after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and the collapse of earlier transitional arrangements, the body was tasked with restoring a sense of direction in a nation where power has long drifted between institutions and individuals.

Its final days reflected the tensions that defined its existence. Disagreements among council members deepened over questions of authority and leadership, particularly regarding Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, an unelected figure backed by the United States and widely viewed as Haiti’s central governing authority. Attempts within the council to remove him underscored the uncertainty surrounding who holds mandate and legitimacy in a country without national elections for more than a decade.

Outside official chambers, the city followed its own rhythms. Markets reopened at dawn, neighborhoods adjusted to shifting boundaries of safety, and residents measured political change with practiced caution. Gang violence continues to exert control over large parts of the capital, complicating governance and rendering electoral timelines fragile. For many Haitians, the council’s dissolution was neither an ending nor a beginning, but another moment passing through a long stretch of waiting.

The council had been expected to prepare the ground for elections, yet security challenges and internal disputes stalled that aim. Accusations of corruption further weakened public confidence, and the gap between intention and execution widened. As the body stepped aside, it left behind unresolved questions rather than firm milestones.

Now, with the council gone, Prime Minister Fils-Aimé remains in place, effectively guiding the country through an uncertain interim. International support continues to focus on stabilizing security and sustaining humanitarian efforts, even as political clarity remains elusive. Announcements about future elections persist, though timelines remain tentative amid conditions on the ground.

In straight terms, Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council formally dissolved after nearly two years in office. Established in 2024 as part of a negotiated effort to restore order and prepare for elections, it leaves behind a governance structure centered on Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, with national elections still unrealized and the country facing an extended period of political uncertainty.

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