The United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, has stressed this Tuesday the need for Haiti to organize "credible" elections as soon as possible, backed by "minimum" security conditions, so that the "political process" can be "accelerated" and "confidence can be restored" among the population.
"The Haitian people have already waited too long," Guterres lamented during his visit to Port-au-Prince, the country's capital. He recalled that, with around 6.4 million people requiring humanitarian aid, Haiti is experiencing the "most serious humanitarian crisis in the Western Hemisphere." Therefore, he insisted that it is essential for its leaders to strive to "accelerate the political process and restore confidence."
The UN's top official stressed that it is the Haitians themselves who must "chart the course" and argued that the reconstruction of citizen confidence must be articulated through "inclusive" transitional stages and through "credible" elections, since, he reiterated, this is the "only legitimate way" to "restore constitutional order and democratic institutions."
As he explained, "there is a widespread desire to hold transparent elections, elections whose results are trusted by the people, and also a clear idea that elections cannot be held without minimum security conditions," a statement made after a meeting he described as "very enriching" with representatives of Haitian civil society.
Asked about the possibility of the elections being held next December, Guterres avoided setting an "appropriate" date. However, he pointed out that, for the electoral event to be possible, it will be key to advance simultaneously on two fronts: one focused on improving security and another on creating the necessary conditions to guarantee transparent elections.
"I believe that the final decision on the date of the elections will depend on how these two parallel paths advance. It is not up to me to say what the appropriate date is," he reiterated, leaving the determination of the calendar in the hands of the Haitian government and the citizens themselves. During his brief stay in the country, he also met with the Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.
In this context, he recalled that Haiti has lacked a president elected at the polls since the assassination of the previous head of state, Jovenel Moïse, in July 2021.
The dominance of gangs and the international offensive
According to UN data, at least 26 gangs, some with heavy weaponry, control up to 90% of Port-au-Prince and its surroundings. These groups, the organization points out in a statement, "sow terror among the population through acts of violence, summary executions, extortion, and kidnappings for ransom, in addition to hindering trade by blocking the free movement of goods."
Since the beginning of 2026, the escalation of violence perpetrated by gangs has caused "more than 2,300 deaths and more than 1,100 injuries." Faced with this scenario, Guterres has highlighted the role of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), a mission approved in September 2025 by the UN Security Council to replace the Multinational Security Support Mission.
"Its deployment offers a real opportunity to curb violence and restore state authority," the secretary-general emphasized, urging not to "waste" this occasion. He also insisted that the gangs must be "disarmed and dismantled," and their members "reintegrated into a Haiti-led process."
The UN specified in a press release that the GSF has logistical, operational, and technical support from the UN Office of Support in Haiti (UNSOH), which is responsible, among other tasks, for the supply of rations, medical care, and transportation.
The main base, known as Camp Vertières, is being prepared to house part of the 5,550 personnel authorized by the Security Council for this international force. Military personnel from several countries are already deployed at these facilities, where offices in containers are also being set up.
To conclude, Guterres expressed his disappointment with what he considers an insufficient commitment from the international community to Haiti. He denounced the lack of "developed countries" among the contributors to the GSF and, at the same time, encouraged states categorized as "developing" to become more involved in this type of operation.