Haiti's Transition Council Faces Turmoil Amid Corruption Allegations

A leadership dispute erupts as corruption claims against council members threaten political stability in Haiti.

Leslie Voltaire has taken over as the new leader of Haiti's transitional presidential council amid unresolved corruption accusations against three council members.
Edgard Leblanc Fils, the outgoing council president, refused to ratify the leadership transition, citing the corruption scandal as a risk to Haiti's justice system.
The corruption allegations involve demands for $750,000 from the director of the government-owned National Bank of Credit, implicating Smith Augustin, Louis Gérald Gilles, and Emmanuel Vertilaire.
Despite the allegations, the accused members remain on the council, sparking criticism from political groups and calls for their removal pending judicial review.
The council, established to stabilize Haiti and prepare for elections by February 2026, faces challenges from rampant gang violence and internal dissent.