Haiti’s Gang Violence Kills and Injures Thousands as Elections Loom

Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé has ordered cabinet members and public officials to remain neutral as the country prepares for December 13 elections, the first since 2016. The government says state resources must not be used for campaign activity, while the electoral rules were revised again amid doubts the vote will happen on time and debate over candidate eligibility.

Haiti’s indefinite election postponement reflects worsening gang violence, political paralysis and state collapse, with nearly 1.5 million people displaced and much of the capital outside government control. The piece argues the crisis is regional, urging the international community to target the financiers and enablers of armed gangs, not just the gunmen, and to increase support for security and governance.

Haiti has indefinitely postponed presidential and legislative elections that were due later this year, with no new date announced as gang violence and political instability continue to disrupt the country. Officials said voter registration is still under way, but insecurity has made it difficult to hold a free and fair vote in a nation that has not had elections since 2016.

Haiti has indefinitely postponed elections planned for December and February 2027, with officials saying a new timetable will be announced later. The delay reflects worsening gang violence and political instability, as the country has not held elections since 2016 and still lacks an elected president, complicating efforts to restore order.

Haiti’s gang violence has killed or injured at least 5,700 people this year and left more than 1,000 women and girls raped, with the UN warning the real toll is likely higher. Volker Turk said gangs are still expanding despite an international security force that is far below strength, while Haiti’s police and self-defence groups are also causing heavy casualties.

Kidnappings in Haiti are rising again, with at least 81 reported from April to June, including police inspector general James Boyard and attorney Caleb Jean-Baptiste. The surge comes as the country prepares for long-delayed elections, highlighting gangs’ grip on security and the state’s inability to protect even senior officials.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned a gang attack in Gros-Morne, Haiti, that killed at least 11 people, including four members of one family transporting a sick woman to hospital. The attack highlights Haiti’s worsening gang violence as the UN extends its 5,500-member security mission ahead of December elections, while Catholic bishops warn the country is sinking deeper into crisis.

Jamaica welcomed the UN Security Council’s decision to extend the Gang Suppression Force’s mandate in Haiti to March 31, 2027, and urged countries to provide the troops, funding and equipment needed to make it effective. The government says stronger security is vital to curb gangs, protect aid access and create conditions for Haiti’s 2026 elections.