Haiti Sets First Elections in a Decade for December Amid Security Concerns

Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) has officially scheduled the nation’s first presidential and legislative elections in over a decade, setting the first round for December 13. A runoff is planned for February 21, 2021, with final results expected in early March. The announcement comes after years of delays caused by political instability and rampant gang violence that has paralyzed the capital and surrounding regions.

The council emphasized that the success of the timeline depends entirely on establishing an acceptable security climate and securing necessary international funding. While the government has begun registering voters and has approved over 300 political parties to compete, skepticism remains high among international observers. Many analysts fear that the ongoing conflict with powerful armed gangs, which control significant portions of Port-au-Prince, will make it impossible for citizens to safely reach polling stations, potentially forcing another postponement of the long-delayed vote.