Haiti’s mounting political turmoil deepened Monday as a new prime minister was controversially appointed, triggering fresh tensions in a nation already grappling with gang violence and social instability. The transitional council announced businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aimé as the new prime minister, replacing Garry Conille, who had served since May. Conille, however, dismissed his removal as “unconstitutional” and accused the council of undermining Haiti’s fragile political framework.

Conille’s ouster sparked intense debate as violence shut down Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. Earlier Monday, gunfire struck a Spirit Airlines flight from Florida, forcing the plane to land in the Dominican Republic. The U.S. Embassy confirmed that gang violence was behind the airport’s temporary closure, with the attack marking the second such incident in recent months.

Haiti’s leadership vacuum, ongoing since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, has left the country without any elected officials. The transitional council, established in March with international backing, was tasked with creating conditions for eventual elections. However, Conille’s dismissal raises doubts about the council’s legitimacy, with critics claiming it reflects foreign interests rather than addressing the concerns of ordinary Haitians.

Conille, a former UNICEF official, argued that only a functioning parliament could legally dismiss him, stating, “This decision bypasses the constitutional framework and only weakens our nation.” Despite his removal, Conille expressed a commitment to work within the council to support a stable transition, signing his public response as “Prime Minister.”

Haiti’s social instability has allowed gangs to expand their power, controlling over 85% of Port-au-Prince. In recent months, gang violence has surged, with nearly 4,900 deaths recorded from January to September, according to the U.N. The growing threat has displaced over 700,000 people, created widespread food insecurity, and disrupted daily life for millions. International support, including a Kenyan-led security mission backed by the U.N., has made limited progress, hindered by resource shortages and bureaucratic delays.

The U.S. government has sought to expand the security mission’s resources, though it faces opposition from some lawmakers. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and Canadian U.N. Ambassador Bob Rae expressed concerns over the political instability and its impact on international aid efforts. Rae, in particular, stressed the need for unity within Haiti’s transitional government, warning that continued infighting only diminishes the trust of international partners.

With no immediate end to the political impasse or gang violence, Haiti’s future remains uncertain. The next steps by the transitional council and international stakeholders will be critical in determining whether Haiti can move toward stability or if it will continue its downward spiral into chaos.