Haiti has not had an elected president since he was assassinated in 2021.
A succession of interim administrations have taken on the responsibility of governing while the country waits to hold elections.
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Haiti, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, based in the capital, Port-au-Prince, said that the new National Stability Pact and Organization of Elections It was a “significant political act.”
He added that it responded to Haitian priorities for “the restoration of security, the organization of credible elections and the reestablishment of democratic governance.”
A burned vehicle is found on the side of a road in a neighborhood of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince.
Why the political situation matters
A stable government will be essential to improve the daily lives of the people of Haiti.
Weak governance and the resulting insecurity have allowed armed gangs to expand territorial control, undermine the rule of law and commit egregious human rights abuses.
These have included murders (more than 8,100 were documented in 2025), kidnappings for ransom, recruitment of children and sexual violence with gang rapes of women and girls.
Gang violence has also displaced approximately 1.5 million people, many of whom were already suffering from high levels of poverty, a situation that has been exacerbated by the economic collapse.
Haiti’s prolonged political transition is not an isolated internal issue, but has ramifications for regional stability, such as drug and weapons trafficking by gangs and the migration of its citizens abroad.
So when could elections be held?
The UN and the international community have always maintained that any lasting political solution must be a Haiti-led process.
The authorities are supported in their efforts to organize and hold municipal, parliamentary and presidential elections. The current Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, has reportedly said that they will be held at the end of the year.
An ink mark on his thumb shows that this voter in Haiti went to the polls in 2016 (file).
What does the international community say?
The Security Council, made up of 15 UN member states, meets at least four times a year to discuss the situation in Haiti.
In his latest resolution he urged “all Haitian stakeholders to reach agreement on the future government structure,” while expressing “deep concern about the lack of progress” in achieving a political transition.
The resolution also notes recent institutional measures, including the 2025 decree establishing specialized judicial bodies to address corruption, gang violence and sexual crimes, reforms considered essential to restoring the rule of law and political credibility.
Despite these initiatives, ongoing insecurity, weak Haitian institutions, and political fragmentation continue to delay progress toward elections and constitutional governance.
What is the role of the United Nations?
The UN is playing a central political and coordinating role through the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, often known by its French acronym, BINUH.
The mission is led by Carlos Ruiz Massieu and has a mandate until January 2027. The Security Council highlights that the “good offices” role of the mission is essential to enable a transparent transition led by Haiti.
BINUH is distinct from, but works in conjunction with:
- UNSOH (the United Nations Support Office in Haiti) is mandated to provide logistical, technical and administrative support to the UN-backed and council-mandated Gang Suppression Force (GSF).
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UN agencies, such as UNDP, UNICEF and the World Food Programme, which provide humanitarian and development assistance.
How is the UN responding?
UN support for Haiti’s transition focuses on integrating political assistance with security, justice and human rights initiatives including:
- Facilitation of a national dialogue and the constitutional process, including ensuring a peaceful transfer of power.
- support for justice reform and specialized courts that address corruption and mass crimes
- assistance to judicial institutions and penitentiary administration
- Support to design a Haiti-led disarmament, dismantlement and reintegration (DDR) program.
- Coordination with international partners to reduce community violence.
- monitor and report human rights abuses, including sexual violence
- Support to national authorities to strengthen the protection of human rights.
What happens next?
The year 2026 is accompanied by great expectations regarding the holding of elections that should have been held a long time ago.
An electoral calendar sets the first round of legislative and presidential elections for August 20 and a second round, if necessary, along with municipal elections on December 6.
According to media reports, around 300 political parties or groups have registered to participate in the elections.
To meet these deadlines, it is necessary to move forward to stabilize the security environment and create conditions conducive to holding a fair vote.
The UN continues to facilitate dialogue, support elections, strengthen justice institutions and promote accountability, but progress ultimately depends on Haitian stakeholders reaching consensus.
Political differences must be overcome to improve security, reduce displacement and avoid economic collapse.
A credible political transition is essential for national recovery.