In addition to the inability to convene a Council of Ministers meeting for the past three months, the members of the Transitional Presidential Council have made their divisions public. These divisions are marked not by differing visions of how to lead the country or improve the population’s living conditions, but by disputes over the distribution of high-level positions in public administration and diplomatic posts.

Interviews given last week to Le Nouvelliste by Presidential Advisors Fritz Alphonse Jean (the coordinator) and Smith Augustin already hinted at the CPT’s dysfunction. Both CPT members clearly stated there were internal power struggles among the presidential advisors and the Prime Minister over control of public administration and diplomatic positions.