Its establishment, facillitated by the military, was in response to the failure of the two preceding interim presidents, Joseph Nemours Pierre-Louis and Franck Sylvain, to resolve widespread unrest following the resignation and departure of Paul Magloire.
[5] Meanwhile, Colonel Léon Cantave, who had been seeking refuge in an embassy in fear of retribution from Magloire, arbitarily took over command of the Haitian army, claiming the titles "General" and "Chief of Staff".
[5] These suspicions were confirmed when Sylvain ordered the arrests of presidential candidates Jumelle and Fignolé and manipulated voter registration in the provinces to set up an electoral system deliberately designed to secure a victory for Duvalier.
The scandal led to General Léon Cantave orchestrating a coup against Sylvain, placing him under house arrest and effectively ending his provisional presidency that lasted less than two months.
[10] Duvalier escalated tensions further by delivering a provocative radio speech accusing his opponents of madness and imploring his supporters to remain strong.
[10] In an attempt to restore order, the council banned political gatherings and radio broadcasts; it set the election date for June 16.
[10] By May, Haiti was on the brink of anarchy, with widespread violence and unrest; both the national bank and legislature closed down in protest of the CEG's handling of affairs.
[8] A brief power struggle ensued within the military between the Cantave and Armand camps,[5] culminating on May 25 with a fierce day-long battle in Casernes Dessalines.
Ultimately, Cantave and Armand were both compelled to resign, and General Antonio Thrasybule Kébreau, secretly aligned with Duvalier, became the new army chief.