Haiti opens registration for what would be the 1st election in a decade

Haiti Begins Electoral Registration Process Despite Ongoing Security Concerns

Haiti’s government launched a 10-day registration period for political parties on Monday, marking a critical step toward holding general elections in a country that has not seen nationwide voting in over a decade. The move comes amid persistent gang violence that continues to destabilize large portions of the Caribbean nation.

Heavily armed soldiers and police surrounded the headquarters of Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council as representatives from established political parties arrived to collect the necessary registration documents. Among them was Pierre Dieu-Donné Delice, a psychologist who leads a newly formed party called Tools for Another Haiti.

Delice expressed frustration with Haiti’s transitional government, which has been in power since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. “They love transition because there’s no control. They can do whatever they want,” he told The Associated Press, reflecting widespread public fatigue with interim leadership arrangements.

The current interim leader, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, now governs with the backing of the United States. Until February 7, he shared power with a transitional presidential council established in 2024. The council’s mandated departure has left Fils-Aimé as the sole leader of Haiti during this precarious period.

Haiti’s government has committed to holding a general election in late August with a potential runoff by early December. However, the feasibility of this timeline remains uncertain given the country’s security challenges.

Delice highlighted these concerns, noting that gang violence continues to render large areas inaccessible. “The conditions are not ready yet for an election,” he said. “There is no way for candidates to campaign there… If the situation stays the way it is now, it will be impossible to have an election.”

The security situation in Haiti remains dire. According to United Nations statistics, more than 5,900 people were reported killed across Haiti last year, with over 2,700 injured. Gang violence has also displaced a record 1.4 million people in the nation of nearly 12 million inhabitants.

This violence has personal implications for political leaders like Delice, who was forced to flee his home in the central coastal town of Arcahaie with his family following a gang attack. He also relocated his party’s headquarters to Port-au-Prince and must travel by boat or helicopter to meet regional party members because gangs control major routes in and out of the capital, occasionally opening fire on passing vehicles.

Despite these challenges, Joseph André Gracien Jean, the minister in charge of electoral matters, expressed optimism about the registration process. “Today, we take a big step,” he told the AP. “People should be elected to return to a democratic order.”

Gracien Jean emphasized that the electoral council is proceeding with party registration without waiting for complete security across Haiti. “It’s a long process; step by step, we are moving forward,” he said. “What’s important is that the executive branch is making an effort.”

The registration period closes on March 12, and officials anticipate increased activity as the deadline approaches.

André Jonas Vladimir Paraison, head of Haiti’s National Police, recently indicated that authorities continue to develop plans for securing the electoral process. In coming months, a new gang suppression force is expected to replace the current UN-backed mission led by Kenyan police, which has struggled with insufficient personnel and funding.

The electoral registration process represents a tentative step toward restoring democratic governance in Haiti, though significant obstacles remain. The country’s ability to overcome entrenched gang control and establish the security necessary for genuine democratic participation will determine whether these electoral aspirations can become reality in 2024.