Haiti’s government has taken a crucial step towards reviving the electoral process after years of political turmoil and violence. On Wednesday, the government established a provisional electoral council, marking the most concrete action towards holding elections in years. The Caribbean nation is slated to hold elections by 2026, a full decade after the last ones were held in 2016.
The country’s political situation has been plagued by instability, further exacerbated by the power vacuum created by the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. Since then, Haiti has been without a president, and armed gangs have seized control of approximately 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and most other parts of the country.
The newly formed electoral council is composed of representatives from various sectors, including religious groups, journalists, farmers, and unions. The council is tasked with creating the legal framework for the elections and subsequently planning their execution.
The council’s creation was approved by Haiti’s transitional presidential council, which has been serving as the government since its establishment in April. The presidential council’s mandate is set to expire in February 2026, marking the deadline for the elections.
The path towards stable elections is fraught with challenges. A previous electoral council was dissolved in 2021 under Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who assumed office after Moise’s death. He was forced to leave his post earlier this year after leaving the country to seek support for an international security mission and was unable to return.
The interim government in May appointed Garry Conille as prime minister. However, both the council and the interim government face an uphill battle in restoring stability to Haiti. Currently, only Kenya and Jamaica have deployed forces to Haiti as part of the UN-backed anti-gang offensive. The offensive is set to expire at the beginning of October unless its mandate is renewed.
Despite the numerous challenges, the creation of the electoral council represents a hopeful step towards restoring democratic processes and a sense of stability to Haiti.
