Haiti has announced plans to hold its first general elections in nearly a decade, targeting August 2026 for the initial round of voting. This move towards democratic restoration is contingent on improving security, which remains a major challenge due to pervasive gang violence.
The announcement has been welcomed internationally, with the US urging support for Haiti’s stability efforts. The country has suffered from a prolonged political and security crisis since 2016, exacerbated by gang control over much of the capital.