Haiti’s prime minister urges UN support for elections amid gang violence
Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé has called for urgent international backing to restore security and hold elections by December 2026, warning that armed gangs now control large swathes of Port-au-Prince and…
Source: United Nations News · September 24, 2026 at 10:01 PM · AI-assisted report
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NEW YORK, 25 SEPTEMBER 2026 —
Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé has called for urgent international backing to restore security and hold elections by December 2026, warning that armed gangs now control large swathes of Port-au-Prince and disrupt essential services.
Market Impact
Fils-Aimé told a UN meeting on Haiti’s security crisis that 6.4 million people—nearly a third of the population—require humanitarian aid, while 1.5 million have been displaced by gang violence. The gangs, which source weapons from abroad, have seized control of key transport corridors, blocking the delivery of food, medicine, and other critical supplies.
The prime minister stressed that security alone cannot solve Haiti’s crisis, emphasizing the need for parallel efforts to rebuild state institutions. “The real test is whether we can hold those gains and translate them into lasting change,” he said, noting that police, schools, and justice systems must follow in areas retaken from gangs.
Haiti is expanding its security forces by recruiting and training more police and soldiers, while two specialized judicial units are targeting financial crimes, mass atrocities, and sexual violence. However, the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF), authorized to deploy 5,500 personnel, remains severely understaffed, with only 1,083 members currently on the ground, according to UN Special Representative Carlos Ruiz Massieu.
The meeting also highlighted the plight of children, with UN Economic and Social Council President Amar Bendjama calling for protections against gang recruitment and pathways for reintegration. “They need access to education, essential services, and opportunities to build a safe future,” Bendjama said, urging differentiated approaches for minors involved with armed groups.
Elections, delayed since 2019, are now scheduled for December 13, 2026. Fils-Aimé framed voting as essential to restoring legitimacy, though he acknowledged challenges in ensuring free and fair polls amid ongoing instability. The UN and Haitian officials reiterated support for the electoral process, though the prime minister cautioned that security must precede political progress.
For Malaysian business readers, the crisis underscores the broader regional risks of unchecked gang violence and state collapse, which can disrupt trade, aid flows, and investor confidence in neighboring Caribbean markets.