PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – Jacques Desrosiers, President of Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), has emphatically declared that conducting democratic elections constitutes the fundamental mechanism for reestablishing legitimate governmental authority in the crisis-stricken nation. Addressing business leaders during a crucial meeting, Desrosiers underscored that in any democratic framework, elections represent the primary avenue through which legitimate power is attained.
The Caribbean Community (Caricom) member state last conducted presidential elections in 2016, resulting in Jovenel Moise’s election before his tragic assassination at his private residence in July 2021. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé reported significant progress toward political stability, noting that major political factions have signed a stability accord committing to unified participation in the upcoming electoral process.
Electoral authorities have registered 320 political parties and organizations, with the final qualified list scheduled for publication on March 26. The CEP anticipates conducting elections later this year, contingent upon establishing adequate security conditions and securing necessary financial resources for electoral operations.
The meeting gathered representatives from Haiti’s leading business associations including the Association of Industries of Haiti (ADIH), the American Chamber of Commerce in Haiti (AMCHAM), and several bilateral commerce chambers. Participants received comprehensive briefings on electoral process innovations introduced by the December 1, 2025 Electoral Decree, implementation timelines, and voter registration procedures.
Concurrently, international security efforts are advancing with the first contingent of the Gang Suppression Force (FRG)—comprising Chadian troops currently training in the United States—scheduled for deployment beginning April 1. Dominican Republic Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Álvarez confirmed the force will reach full strength of 5,500 troops by October 2026.
The United Nations emphasized that establishing stable governance remains imperative for improving Haitian citizens’ daily lives, noting that weak governance and pervasive insecurity have enabled armed gangs to expand territorial control. Gang violence resulted in over 8,100 fatalities last year alongside widespread kidnappings, child recruitment, and sexual violence, creating 1.5 million internally displaced persons amidst economic collapse and extreme poverty. The UN identifies 2026 as carrying substantial expectations for long-overdue elections that could begin addressing these systemic challenges.