Haiti sets December presidential election despite security concerns

Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) on Monday published a calendar scheduling the first presidential elections in a decade for December with a runoff in February. Previous plans to hold the vote in August were postponed over security concerns.

Haiti has not held elections since 2016. Its last president, Jovenel Moise, was assassinated in 2021 after delaying a vote. Successive governments have been tasked with holding an election but said insecurity amid a conflict with powerful armed gangs made it impossible.

According to the calendar, the first round of presidential and legislative elections is set for December 13, with a runoff on February 21. Final results are to be announced on March 7. Citizens will also vote on constitutional changes and for local representatives.

The council stressed that the calendar depends on "the establishment of an acceptable security climate and the necessary funds to pursue electoral operations." Earlier this month, the council began registering voters and training electoral security agents, and published a definitive list of over 300 political parties approved to compete.

However, analysts are skeptical that the new dates will hold, as gang violence continues. Consequences include chronic food shortages, extortion, ransom kidnappings, and forced displacement. About 12% of Haiti's population live in makeshift camps or with host families.

Violent armed gangs, largely grouped under the alliance Viv Ansanm, have taken control of most of the capital Port-au-Prince, whose metropolitan area is home to around a quarter of the population. Gangs have also expanded to central and rural Haiti. Viv Ansanm, which has sought political recognition, has been designated a terrorist organization by Washington and is accused of mass kidnappings, gang rapes, arson, and trafficking in guns, organs, and drugs.

CEP President Jacques Desrosiers told Reuters late last year that the council had evaluated hundreds of voting centers, but access later worsened as armed gangs expanded outside the capital.