The long-awaited general elections in Haiti have been scheduled for November 2025, marking a crucial step towards restoring democratic governance in the Caribbean nation.
The announcement was made by Haiti’s transitional council president, Leslie Voltaire, who confirmed in an interview that the elections are expected to take place around 15 November 2025. Haiti has been without elected representatives since January 2023 and has not held national elections since 2016.
“We must pass on power to a legitimate, elected government on 7 February 2026,” Voltaire stated in an interview with TV5 Monde, highlighting the constitutional limit for government transitions. The nation, however, faces significant security challenges, as gang violence and political instability continue to undermine governance and public safety.
The elections are set against the backdrop of a deteriorating security situation, with armed gangs controlling approximately 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. “Despite the reinforcement of the arms embargo, weapons and ammunition trafficking continue to flow into Haiti and into the hands of gangs,” warned Ghada Waly, Head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
A UN-backed multinational security mission led by Kenya has deployed about 800 personnel to assist the Haitian National Police in combating gang violence. However, the number of deployed forces falls short of the 2,500 originally envisioned.
While on a diplomatic visit to France, Voltaire confirmed that he had met with French President Emmanuel Macron, who pledged support for strengthening security efforts and curbing drug trafficking. Haiti, a former French colony, has long struggled with economic hardship, partially due to a historic financial burden. “Haiti is a former French colony that paid the European country a ‘debt’ for over a century, some activists say amounted to over US$100bn, crippling the country’s development,” noted Voltaire.
The security situation in Haiti faces further complications due to a recent US foreign aid freeze, which has resulted in the furloughing of policing experts who were assisting the Kenyan-led mission. Experts fear the suspension of aid could significantly weaken the international effort to combat gangs, exacerbating the country’s crisis.
Haiti expert Vanda Felbab-Brown warned, “even a three-month stop has very severe negative consequences around the world and in Haiti, for saving people’s lives and for preserving US credibility, US soft power.”
The Trump Administration’s executive order freezing nearly all foreign aid has raised concerns among US allies and humanitarian organisations. “At this moment, in order to do a thorough review, all programmes and grants without a waiver approved by the Secretary of State using foreign assistance funding are paused,” a State Department spokesperson confirmed.
This move has disrupted operations aimed at stabilising Haiti, which remains heavily dependent on foreign aid, with the US contributing nearly 60% of all humanitarian assistance to the country.
Beyond security concerns, Haiti faces a dire humanitarian crisis. Over 1mn Haitians are internally displaced due to gang violence, and half of the population—approximately 5mn people—are experiencing food insecurity. The disruption of key ports due to violence has further strained food supply chains.
The instability in Haiti has prompted international diplomatic engagement. During his European tour, Voltaire emphasised the need for global support. The government is also exploring potential political discussions with Viv Ansanm, the coalition of armed gangs that control much of the capital. This move has been met with controversy, as many fear it could legitimise violent groups.
Despite the challenges, Haiti’s transitional government remains committed to holding elections within the proposed timeline. “President Voltaire wants to hold the elections in November 2025 and the inauguration of the new government in January 2026,” reported Le Monde.
The elections will be the first since the 2016 vote that led to the presidency of Jovenel Moïse, who was assassinated in July 2021. His killing triggered a surge in political and gang-related violence, pushing Haiti further into chaos.
While the Kenyan-led security mission has made incremental progress, including reclaiming two police stations previously overtaken by gangs, experts caution that much work remains. “Haiti is witnessing an alarming surge in human trafficking, particularly child trafficking by gangs,” Waly warned, highlighting the broader consequences of the country’s instability.
With international support wavering and security conditions precarious, the path to elections in November remains fraught with uncertainty. However, the transitional government appears steadfast in its goal of returning Haiti to democratic rule, with hopes that the upcoming elections will mark the beginning of national stability.
Source: Caribbean Insight