Haitians can’t wait to return to their country and vote in the elections, the Prime Minister said

Armed gangs continue to commit widespread violence in the Caribbean country, where they frequently kill, rape and kidnap civilians.

Around 6.4 million people require humanitarian assistance in the country and nearly 1.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes.

The gangs now control much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and key transport corridors, hampering the transport of essential services and humanitarian aid.

More outside support

“Haitian security […] depends on our collective ability to combat the illicit flows that fuel the violence: weapons, ammunition, human trafficking, and transnational criminal networks,” explained Mr. Fils-Aimé, as the gangs source most of their weapons outside of Haiti.

Speakers at the meeting, including Haiti’s Prime Minister and UN officials, also expressed broad support for expanding the UN’s mandate. Security Council-supported force, Gang Suppression Force (GSF).

The force aims to neutralize armed gangs, protect critical infrastructure and enable the entry of humanitarian aid.

But the mission is woefully under-deployed, with only 1,083 personnel on the ground compared to the 5,500 authorized by the UN, said the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Haiti, Carlos Ruiz Massieu.

He called for the mission to reach full deployment as early as possible.

Strengthening Haiti’s capabilities

At the same time, while expressing thanks to the international community for its support, Haiti’s representatives emphasized that they want a Haiti-centric response to this crisis to ensure a more sustainable peace.

“Haiti will ultimately have to depend on the capabilities of the Haitian state,” said Haitian Prime Minister Mr. Fils-Aimé.

Importantly, he emphasized that security operations are only the first step in addressing this crisis.

“The real test will be whether we can sustain that progress and translate it into long-term change for the people of Haiti,” the Prime Minister said. “When areas become accessible again, state and basic services must follow suit: police and local authorities, schools, justice institutions and economic activity.”

In this regard, he said that Haiti was strengthening its security forces by training and recruiting more police officers and soldiers.

He also said that Haiti’s two special justice units are helping fight impunity, financial crimes, mass atrocities, crime and sexual violence.

Children on the front line

A key priority raised at the meeting was ensuring that children, including those recruited or associated with gangs, receive adequate protection and support.

“Protecting children from violence, from gang recruitment, while providing safe passage for children linked to armed groups, must be a priority in our efforts,” stressed Amar Bendjama, UN President. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) which hosted the meeting.

“They need access to protection, education and essential services. They also need the opportunity to build a safe and secure future for themselves.”

The priority of protecting children should guide efforts to dismantle gangs and hold those responsible for serious crimes accountable. Ruiz Massieu, the most senior UN official in Haiti, called for a “different pathway” for gang-linked children.

Next election

General elections, which have been repeatedly postponed since 2019, are scheduled to be held in Haiti on December 13, 2026.

The UN and other countries expressed strong support for the agreements, and emphasized that they must be credible, free, fair and inclusive.

The Prime Minister of Haiti also expressed his enthusiasm: “Haiti’s next government must go through the ballot box […] The vote restores legitimacy, and legitimacy paves the way for stability.”

“Currently the election process is going well. Election operations have been launched. Citizens have registered. Political organizations have also been certified,” he explained.