“Today is an important day in the life of our dear republic,” he said. “The day indeed opens the prospects of a solution ... of addressing the multidimensional crisis the country is experiencing with the view of achieving a definitive outcome.”

Boisvert had been acting on Henry’s behalf while the prime minister remained out of Haiti after being kept out of the country. Henry had been on an official visit to Kenya, finalizing an agreement for the deployment of a multinational security support force to help the Haiti National Police combat gangs, when the violence shut down the country’s airports and he was pressured by Washington to resign.

Boisvert will be in charge of the country’s day-to-day governance while the presidential council works on finding a replacement for Henry and readying the country for the arrival of the Kenya-led mission.

Henry had initially announced his intentions on March 11 to step down from office after the council’s swearing-in.

Secret ceremony

Though on Wednesday council members had said the swearing-in would take place at the former offices of the prime minister of Haiti, Villa d’Accueil, due to security concerns at the National Palace, they had in fact planned since Tuesday to do the ceremony in secret at the palace.

After the swearing-in they went to the Villa d’Accueil, where the panel’s only woman, Régine Abraham, a representative of the interfaith community, addressed the nation. She opened her remarks by recalling the still unsolved July 7, 2021, assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, which plunged the country further into chaos.

During the gathering, members of the new government mingled with members from the business community as well as foreign diplomats, who also found themselves in a receiving line with some of the very political figures their respective nations had sanctioned during Henry’s tenure.

After Thursday’s swearing-in, the new council has to select a president from among their seven voting members and begin the process of choosing Henry’s replacement. Together, they will appoint a new government.

In his resignation note, Henry thanked the members of his government and the security forces who accompanied him during his nearly three years in office.

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