In an interview on Wednesday, Leslie Voltaire, the president of Haiti's transitional council, announced that the Caribbean nation's long-awaited general elections are scheduled for around November 15 of this year. Haiti has been without elected representatives since January 2023, with armed gangs controlling much of the capital, necessitating a focus on establishing security for a fair vote.
Voltaire emphasized the importance of transitioning to a legitimate, elected government by February 7, 2026, acknowledging challenges posed by the security crisis in holding elections. Currently, over 1 million Haitians are internally displaced due to conflict, with half the population - over 5 million people - affected by armed gangs gaining territory, impacting essential services like port operations and agriculture.
With armed gangs maintaining control and the judicial system paralyzed, Voltaire mentioned a proposal by leading politicians to involve Viv Ansanm, the armed gang coalition in discussions, while facing challenges from the current administration. He highlighted discussions held with Macron during a European tour, securing support for security enhancement and drug-trafficking prevention efforts.
Haiti, a former French colony, struggled with a "debt" to France for over a century, hindering its development according to activists. Voltaire noted the presence of about 800 Kenyan troops in a U.N.-backed mission supporting police action against gangs, cautioning about potential consequences if the U.S. reduces humanitarian aid and increases deportations, foreseeing detrimental impacts on Haiti.