Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé says Haitians are eager to regain security, return to their homes and participate in the country’s long-delayed elections, as his government and international partners work to create conditions for voting in December.
Fils-Aimé made the remarks on September 24, 2026, during a special United Nations meeting on the future of security in Haiti. He said Haitians are waiting to return home, resume work, send their children to school, and freely choose their leaders.
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Haiti’s first round of presidential and legislative elections is scheduled for December 13, with a potential second round set for February 2027. The elections have been repeatedly delayed since 2019 amid political instability and widespread gang violence.
Fils-Aimé said the electoral process is already underway, with citizens registering to vote and political organisations being certified to participate. He said Haiti’s next government must emerge through the ballot box, arguing that elections are necessary to restore political legitimacy and help create a path toward stability.
Security remains a major obstacle. CARICOM’s Eminent Persons Group, following a September visit to Haiti, reported concerns about deadly violence, kidnappings, the slow deployment of the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF)and the difficulty of registering voters in territories outside effective state control. The group said a secure environment is essential for voter registration, campaigning, freedom of movement and safe voting.
Fils-Aimé also called for continued efforts to disrupt the illicit flows of firearms, ammunition, narcotics and money that fuel criminal activity. He said international assistance remains important but stressed that Haiti ultimately needs a response centred on strengthening the Haitian state and its institutions.
The prime minister said restoring security must also involve protecting children from violence and gang recruitment and providing support for children associated with armed groups. He argued that when territory becomes accessible again, government services, including police, schools, justice institutions and economic activity, must follow.
The UN says approximately 6.4 million people in Haiti require humanitarian assistance, while nearly 1.5 million people have been displaced by the continuing crisis. The security situation has also disrupted essential services and humanitarian access across parts of the country.
With the December vote approaching, Fils-Aimé said Haiti’s political transition must ultimately end through elections. The CARICOM Eminent Persons Group has likewise called for international partners to accelerate security commitments needed to give Haitians a realistic opportunity to register, campaign and vote safely.
