New Haiti Prime Minister Sworn In Amid Gunfire Incident Involving Airliner.

Alix Didier Fils-Aime was sworn in on Monday as Haiti’s new prime minister amid escalating violence, highlighted by a gun attack on a passenger jet at the capital’s airport, underscoring the nation’s severe security challenges.

Fils-Aime succeeds Garry Conille, who assumed office in May but faced conflicts with the unelected transitional council, established to bring stability to the crisis-ridden country.

“The priority for a successful transition is to restore security,” Fils-Aime declared in his initial address. Acknowledging Haiti’s “difficult circumstances,” he pledged to dedicate his “energy, skills, and patriotism” to serving the nation.

The challenges are stark: A Spirit Airlines flight from Florida, attempting to land in Port-au-Prince, was struck by gunfire and redirected to the Dominican Republic. One flight attendant sustained minor injuries, and images shared online showed bullet holes in the cabin. No passengers were harmed. In response, Port-au-Prince grounded all commercial flights, and American Airlines suspended its Miami-Haiti route until Thursday. The International Air Transport Association condemned the attack, stressing the urgent need for security measures to safeguard air travel vital for humanitarian support in Haiti.

The nine-member council ousted Conille just five months into his term, which he contests, potentially adding to the political uncertainty in a country that has lacked a president since Jovenel Moise’s 2021 assassination, has no active parliament, and last held elections in 2016.

With more than 600 additional international police officers, led by Kenya, due to arrive in Haiti by the end of November, the Caribbean nation continues to battle escalating violence. A recent UN report documented over 1,200 deaths between July and September, with widespread kidnappings and violence against women and girls. The UN Secretary-General urged Haitian leaders to prioritize the nation’s interests and uphold the integrity of the transition process.

Gangs now control approximately 80% of Port-au-Prince, using drones, trench networks, and weapon stockpiles to resist the Kenyan-led police force. Nearly 700,000 people, half of them children, have fled their homes due to the violence. The UN Human Rights Office reports nearly 4,900 people killed this year between January and September.