PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) – The United States (US) has signalled its strong support for Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimè’s leadership “in building a strong, prosperous, and free Haiti”  as the deadline draws nearer for the end of the mandate of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) on Saturday.

In a statement posted on the United States Embassy website in Haiti, Washington made it clear that it is in support of the 55-year-old Prime Minister Fils-Aimè’, who has been serving as prime minister since 2024.

“As the Transitional Presidential Council’s Mandate ends on February 7th, we support Prime Minister Fils-Aimè’s leadership in building a strong, prosperous, and free Haiti,” Washington said in the statement posted on the embassy’s website.

The CPT was established in April 2024 to restore political stability, address the security crisis caused by powerful armed gangs, and facilitate a transition of power following the resignation of then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

The nine-member council was created to select a new prime minister and cabinet, prepare for, and oversee the nation’s next elections, which are planned for early 2026.  Since April 2024, Haiti has held no national elections.

Now, with just a couple of days to go before the CPT’s mandate ends, political parties, civil society groups and ordinary citizens are intensifying calls for the departure of the CPT, describing the council as costly, corrupt and incapable of addressing the country’s deepening crisis.

Among them is the Forum of Civil Society Groups, which says it has links with more than 13,000 “grass roots” organisations that have named educator Dr Charles Tardieu as its presidential candidate.

The United States has confirmed that at the direction of Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth,  the USS Stockdale, the USCGC Stone and the USCGC Diligence have arrived in the Bay of Port-au-Prince.

“Their presence reflects the United States’ unwavering commitment to Haiti’s security, stability, and brighter future. The US Navy  and US Coast Guard stand as symbols of partnership and support, working to ensure a safer and more prosperous Haiti,” the US embassy noted.

Meanwhile, the Organization of American States (OAS) said that a meeting had been held in Washington this week, involving Caribbean Community (Caricom), the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti,  Canada and the United States.

It said that following “extensive dialogue and consultations”, participants “reaffirmed continued commitment to supporting the people of the Republic of Haiti at a moment of profound uncertainty, but also of opportunity for a better future”.

It also welcomed the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution, especially the timely deployment of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), which “is of utmost importance to sustainably improve gang-related insecurity in Haiti”.

The first contingents of the GSF, which replaces the struggling Kenya-led Multinational Security Support  (MSS) mission, are expected to arrive in the country in April, and its mission is to restore state authority and public order, reduce gang territorial control, secure critical infrastructure, and support the Haitian people as they work toward a return to elected governance and long-term stability.

“We recognise that a Haitian-led and owned solution is crucial. The signatories call on all stakeholders to act in the interest of peace and stability and for the well-being of the Haitian people,” according to the OAS statement that was issued after the meeting.

For its part, Caricomin its statement, said the EPG comprising the former prime ministers of St Lucia, The Bahamas and Jamaica “held several engagements on the sidelines of the consultative dialogue…on the Gang Suppression Force”.