Haitian opposition politician and lawyer André Michel has warned that armed gangs could effectively “win” the country’s long-awaited elections if authorities fail to restore a minimum level of security before Haitians go to the polls.
Michel made the warning ahead of a high-level regional and international delegation’s visit to Haiti, led by Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary-General Albert Ramdin and including CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett. He urged the delegation and Haitian authorities to make security a priority if the electoral process is to produce a credible outcome.
- Advertisement -
Michel, who has previously expressed an interest in running for president, said the country cannot afford to hold elections under conditions that allow armed groups to exercise decisive influence over voters and political activity.
“Without a minimum level of security, armed gangs will win the elections,” he said, arguing that restoring access to Haiti’s major national highways must be a fundamental condition for the vote.
He warned that elections held without first reducing gang control could effectively hand political power back to armed groups and their allies.
“We cannot hold elections only to hand power back to armed gangs and their political allies,” Michel said, while calling on both the Haitian Government and international community to take responsibility for creating the security conditions necessary for voting.
The warning comes as Haiti moves closer to elections that would mark the country’s first national vote in a decade. The Provisional Electoral Council has scheduled the first round of presidential and legislative elections, along with a constitutional referendum, for December 13, 2026. The election would be the first presidential vote since Jovenel Moïse was elected in 2016. Moïse was assassinated in July 2021, plunging the country deeper into political instability and leaving Haiti without an elected president.
Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé has repeatedly maintained that elections will take place this year, despite the country’s severe security challenges. Last week, he declared that the vote would proceed “no matter what” as the electoral authorities continued preparations and published a final list of approved political groups.
The political timetable, however, is unfolding against a backdrop of widespread gang violence. Armed groups have expanded their control over large parts of Port-au-Prince and key transportation routes, while hundreds of thousands of Haitians have been displaced from their homes. The security crisis has also disrupted access to essential services and made movement across parts of the country increasingly difficult. The Council on Foreign Relations estimates that gangs control roughly 90 per cent of the capital and have displaced more than 1.4 million people.
Michel’s comments came as the OAS and CARICOM sought to strengthen international coordination around Haiti’s security, elections, humanitarian needs and longer-term recovery. Ramdin said the delegation’s purpose was not simply to demonstrate solidarity with Haiti but to help translate international support into practical results.
Security is particularly important because large numbers of displaced Haitians have been separated from their communities and, in some cases, lost identification documents. The OAS and Japan recently announced a US$3 million initiative to support Haiti’s electoral preparations, including updating voter lists, producing identification cards and expanding registration services to areas outside the capital.
International security efforts are also being expanded. The United Nations-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF)has begun operations in Haiti, replacing the previous multinational security mission. The force is expected to receive additional personnel in the coming months, with international partners working to strengthen its logistical and operational capacity. Germany, according to reports cited by the Caribbean Media Corporation, is preparing to provide air-transport assistance for troops and equipment.
Michel said the reopening and securing of Haiti’s national highways should be treated as an immediate priority because reliable transportation is essential to allowing candidates, election officials and voters to participate across the country.
At the same time, he urged Haitians to participate in the electoral process, saying he planned to register to vote in Port-au-Prince himself. “Security is essential for a successful electoral process,” he said, while adding that Haiti’s political transition has lasted too long and must come to an end.
The debate highlights the central dilemma facing Haiti: the country urgently needs elected institutions to replace prolonged transitional governance, yet the security situation remains sufficiently fragile to threaten the credibility and accessibility of any election.
With December’s vote approaching, Haitian political leaders and international partners are therefore under increasing pressure to demonstrate that voters can reach polling stations safely, candidates can campaign freely and armed groups cannot determine who participates or who ultimately gains political power.
