Haiti CEP President Jacques Desrosiers reiterates importance of this year’s elections

The President of Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), Jacques Desrosiers, has reiterated that holding elections remains a crucial step in restoring government legitimacy in the French-speaking Caribbean nation.

“In a democratic society, elections remain the primary means of attaining legitimate power,” Desrosiers said during a meeting with members of the business community, where he outlined preparations for the upcoming elections.

Haiti’s last presidential election occurred in 2016 when Jovenel Moise was elected. He was assassinated at his private residence in July 2021, leaving the country without a democratically elected leader. Since then, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé noted that political parties, particularly the major ones, have signed an accord aimed at stabilizing the country and ensuring unified participation in forthcoming elections.

The CEP has registered 320 political parties and organizations and is expected to publish the final list of qualified entities on March 26. Desrosiers emphasized that essential prerequisites for holding elections include establishing a secure environment and ensuring the availability of financial resources necessary for electoral operations.

Representatives from key business groups, including the Association of Industries of Haiti (ADIH), the American Chamber of Commerce in Haiti (AMCHAM), the Franco-Haitian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CFHCI), the Haitian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIHC), and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the West (CCIO), attended the meeting. Officials said the gathering allowed the CEP to present key elements of the electoral process, including updates introduced by the Electoral Decree of December 1, 2025, the electoral calendar, and voter registration procedures.

Meanwhile, security remains a pressing concern. The first contingent of the Gang Suppression Force (FRG), composed of Chadian troops, is scheduled to be deployed to Haiti on April 1. The force, currently being trained in the United States, is expected to reach a total of 5,500 troops by October 2026, according to Dominican Republic Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Álvarez.

The United Nations has highlighted that a stable government is essential to improving daily life in Haiti. Weak governance and pervasive insecurity have allowed armed gangs to expand territorial control, commit human rights abuses, and exacerbate displacement. Last year alone, over 8,100 people were killed, and an estimated 1.5 million were displaced amid ongoing poverty and economic collapse.

With 2026 underway, hopes are high that long-overdue elections will help restore stability, strengthen governance, and improve security conditions for Haitians.