Haitians can’t wait to return home and vote in elections says Prime Minister

Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé told a UN meeting that Haitians are desperate to return home, regain security, and vote in elections after years of gang violence has displaced nearly 1.5 million people and left 6.4 million needing aid. He emphasized that gangs, now controlling large parts of Port-au-Prince and critical transport routes, perpetrate widespread violence including murder, rape, and kidnapping, while sourcing weapons from outside the country. Fils-Aimé called for collective action to cut off illicit flows fueling the gangs, warning that Haiti’s security depends on addressing these external sources of violence and instability.

UN officials and Haitian leaders at the meeting supported extending the mandate of the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF), which aims to neutralize armed gangs and protect infrastructure, though only 1,083 personnel are deployed against an authorized 5,500. Special Representative Carlos Ruiz Massieu stressed the need for full deployment to allow humanitarian aid access and enable state institutions to function, while Haitian representatives insisted on a Haiti-led response to ensure sustainable peace and stability.

Fils-Aimé highlighted that security operations are just the first step, stressing that lasting change requires restoring state presence, including police, local authorities, schools, justice institutions, and economic activity in areas reclaimed from gangs. He noted Haiti’s efforts to strengthen security forces through training and recruitment, alongside the creation of two specialized judicial units to combat impunity, financial crime, and sexual violence, aiming to address the root causes of instability.

The meeting prioritized protecting children, including those associated with gangs, with calls for safe pathways, education, and essential services to prevent recruitment and support rehabilitation. Fils-Aimé confirmed that Haiti’s long-delayed elections are scheduled for December 13, 2026, with electoral operations already underway, including citizen registration and political organization certification, as a path to restoring legitimacy and stability.