Haiti Establishes Electoral Council, Aiming For 2026 Elections Amid Crisis

On Wednesday, Haiti’s government formed a provisional electoral council, marking a significant move towards reviving the country’s electoral process after years of political instability and violence. The Caribbean nation plans to hold elections by 2026, a decade after the last ones in 2016.

The newly created council includes representatives from religious groups, journalists, farmers, and unions, though it still needs delegates for human rights and women’s rights organizations. Its primary role will be to establish the legal framework for elections and oversee the planning process.

Haiti has been in a prolonged political crisis following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. Since then, the country has lacked a president, and armed gangs have taken control of much of Port-au-Prince and other regions.

The transitional presidential council, which has been governing Haiti since April, is responsible for setting up the electoral council. This interim council’s mandate ends in February 2026, by which time elections must be held. The previous electoral council was dissolved in 2021, and the interim Prime Minister Garry Conille, appointed in May, faces significant challenges.

Efforts to stabilize the country have included international support, with Kenya and Jamaica contributing forces to a UN backed anti-gang initiative, which is set to expire if not renewed later this month.