Haiti Announces August 2026 for First General Elections in a Decade

Haiti is set to hold its first general elections in nearly a decade, with the Provisional Electoral Council announcing that the first round of voting will take place in August 2026. This decision marks a significant step for the Caribbean nation, which has been grappling with severe political and security crises exacerbated by gang violence.

The council, which is responsible for organizing the elections, emphasized that restoring security is crucial for the electoral process. According to Jacques Desrosiers, president of the Provisional Electoral Council, “The restoration of security is a prerequisite for holding the first round” of legislative and presidential elections.

Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has not conducted elections since October 2016. The political landscape deteriorated further after the assassination of its last elected president, Jovenel Moïse, in July 2021. Currently, the country is governed by an interim body known as the Transitional Presidential Council, whose mandate is set to expire in February 2026.

In a statement, Laurent Saint-Cyr, president of the Transitional Presidential Council, praised the announcement of the election date. He noted that this decision “finally offers the Haitian people the opportunity to freely and responsibly choose those who should lead them.” He affirmed the commitment to restoring security while working towards a stable and democratic future for Haiti.

The country has been plagued by chronic instability, with criminal gangs committing acts of violence, including murder, rape, looting, and kidnapping. The situation worsened significantly after the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry in early 2024 due to pressure from armed groups that now control much of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

In 2023, the United Nations authorized a multinational security mission to assist Haitian police in combating gang violence. However, this deployment has faced challenges due to insufficient funding and resources. Recently, the UN Security Council approved a transformation of this mission into a more robust anti-gang force. The UN reported alarming figures, stating that more than 16,000 people have been killed due to armed violence in Haiti since the beginning of 2022.

As the nation prepares for its upcoming elections, the international community continues to watch closely, urging the Haitian government to prioritize security to ensure a credible electoral process. The announcement of the election date is a crucial moment for a country yearning for democratic legitimacy and stability after years of turmoil.