Haiti Forms Electoral Council For General Elections Preparation

A police officer checks the receipt that shows the purchase of goats being transported on the back of a motorcycle in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)

In a significant development, Haiti's government has established a provisional electoral council to pave the way for the country's first general elections since 2016. The council, though initially formed with seven members instead of the required nine, is expected to announce the remaining two members shortly.

Comprising representatives from various sectors such as farmers, journalists, human rights activists, and the Vodou community, the electoral council has been entrusted with the crucial task of organizing the upcoming elections and assisting in the formulation of the necessary legal framework.

Haiti has been grappling with political instability, exacerbated by the absence of a president since July 2021 and the lack of elections since 2016. The dissolution of the previous electoral council in September 2021 by former Prime Minister Ariel Henry further delayed the electoral process, drawing criticism and accusations of power retention.

Following a series of challenges, including gang violence and attacks on government infrastructure, Henry resigned, leading to the formation of a transitional presidential council mandated to conduct presidential elections by February 2026.

Council includes representatives from various sectors like farmers, journalists, and human rights activists.

Provisional electoral council formed in Haiti for upcoming general elections.

Haiti facing political instability due to lack of elections since 2016 and absence of a president since July 2021.

The political turmoil in Haiti has been compounded by gang violence, resulting in the deaths of over 3,200 individuals from January to May. Turf wars among gangs have also forced thousands of Haitians into homelessness, with many losing essential documents like IDs required for voting.

In response to the escalating violence, international support has been mobilized, with nearly 400 Kenyan police officers deployed in Haiti as part of a U.N.-backed mission. Additional troops and police personnel from countries like Jamaica, the Bahamas, Chad, Benin, and Bangladesh are expected to join the mission to help stabilize the situation.

Despite the challenges ahead, the creation of the provisional electoral council marks a crucial step towards restoring democratic processes in Haiti and setting the stage for much-needed general elections in the near future.