Haiti Sets First Presidential Election in a Decade for December

Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) has announced that the country's first presidential and legislative elections in a decade will be held on 13 December 2026, with a runoff scheduled for 21 February 2027, following repeated delays caused by the country's worsening security crisis.

The electoral timetable, published on Monday, also includes voting on constitutional amendments and local representatives, with final election results expected to be announced on 7 March 2027.

The elections were initially planned for August 2026, but authorities postponed the process after warning that escalating gang violence made it impossible to guarantee a secure vote.

Haiti has not held national elections since 2016. The country's political crisis deepened after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, with successive transitional governments repeatedly citing insecurity as the main obstacle to organising elections.

The CEP stressed that the new timetable remains dependent on improved security conditions and sufficient financial resources to complete the electoral process.

Earlier this month, the council began registering voters, training election security personnel and approved more than 300 political parties to participate in the vote.

Despite the announcement, analysts remain sceptical that the schedule can be maintained as armed gangs continue to control large parts of the country, including most of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

The powerful gang alliance Viv Ansanm, which has sought political recognition, has been designated a terrorist organisation by the United States and has been accused of kidnappings, mass killings, sexual violence, arson, and weapons, drug and human trafficking.

The ongoing violence has also triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, with widespread food shortages, forced displacement and ransom kidnappings. 

According to available estimates, around 12% of Haiti's population is currently living in temporary camps or with host families after being displaced by the conflict.