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Haiti elections on hold as gangs adapt to security crackdown, UN tells Security Council

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Haiti elections planned for 13 December have been postponed indefinitely, and armed gangs are adapting to tougher security operations, the UN warned the Security Council on 19 October 2026, UN News reported. The UN’s top official in Haiti, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, cautioned against setting new dates without a realistic check on whether a vote can be held.

Haiti elections: A UN Humanitarian Air Service helicopter moves medical supplies for partners within Haiti
A UN Humanitarian Air Service helicopter moves medical supplies for partners within Haiti Photo: WFP/Luc Segur via UN News (editorial use with credit).

Why the Haiti elections were pushed back

Presidential and legislative polls were postponed two weeks before the briefing. Haiti has not held national elections since 2016. Preparations are still going on: more than 35 political parties and groups and 3,500 candidates have registered, Ruiz Massieu said. But as of 5 October only 759,257 potential voters were on the lists, out of an estimated electorate of 6.5 million. “Setting new dates for elections without a realistic assessment of their feasibility will only erode public confidence and the credibility of Haitian institutions,” he warned, adding that insecurity and mass displacement are further complicating the organisation of the vote.

Key Facts

  • Original poll date: 13 December 2026, now postponed indefinitely
  • Last national election: 2016
  • Registered voters (5 Oct): 759,257 of about 6.5 million
  • Gang Suppression Force: 1,563 of 5,550 authorised (12 Oct)
  • Displaced: nearly 1.5 million, including 740,000+ children

Gang Suppression Force still far below strength

Gangs are increasingly using hostage-taking, intimidation and reprisals against civilians to hold territory, according to the Secretary-General’s latest report. In an attack on 23 and 24 August in Kenscoff, south-east of Port-au-Prince, at least 47 people were killed, 22 wounded and 52 taken hostage, 13 of whom were later freed. In the West and Artibonite departments, 241 people were killed for allegedly resisting gangs, and violence has spread to rural areas such as Saint-Michel-de-l’Atalaye, Marigot and Léogâne, where gangs are also targeting farmland, homes and public infrastructure. Security operations also add to the toll: they account for 52 per cent of Haitians killed or wounded since early July, or 808 people, including 148 not linked to gangs. The Security Council-backed Gang Suppression Force had 1,563 uniformed members on 12 October, far short of the 5,550 authorised, though it has set up a base in the Artibonite region, beyond the capital.

Port-au-Prince attack and a deep humanitarian crisis

On Sunday, an armoured vehicle carrying Salvadoran soldiers from the force was attacked in Croix-des-Bouquets in the Port-au-Prince area, and four soldiers were still missing on Monday, according to media reports cited by UN News. “Experience has shown that security operations alone cannot bring about lasting stabilisation,” Ruiz Massieu said, calling for the state’s lasting return and for disarmament and reintegration programmes, especially for children recruited by gangs. Nearly 1.5 million people have fled their homes, including more than 740,000 children. The economy is expected to shrink for a seventh year in a row, and the UN’s 2026 humanitarian plan is only about half funded.

Why It Matters: Without security, Haiti cannot hold the vote it needs to restore elected government. The UN warns that rushing a new date could backfire.

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Source: UN News, 19 Oct 2026 · UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH)

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