Haiti Announces Election Dates Amid Security Operations

Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council announced new general election dates, with the first round set for July 18 and the second round on October 4. The council also outlined a timeline for publishing the final candidate list by mid-January and ending voter registration on May 20.

The initial election date of December 13 was postponed due to gang violence in central Haiti and Port-au-Prince. Four Salvadoran aviation technicians working with a U.N.-backed gang suppression force went missing after an attack in the capital on October 18.

In response, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele deployed over 2,000 troops to assist in the rescue operation. The Haitian government stated that the two leaders are strengthening cooperation within the U.N.-backed gang suppression force framework.

Experts have raised concerns about the role and coordination of the Salvadoran troops. Romain Le Cour, head of the Haiti Observatory, questioned the rules of engagement, chain of command, and objectives of the Salvadoran forces, as well as their potential overlap with the gang suppression force, Haitian police, and private security firm Vectus Global.

Le Cour also noted that the number of Salvadoran troops in Haiti will exceed that of the U.N.-backed force, raising questions about its authority and future. He emphasized the need to understand why Salvadoran technicians were in a gang-controlled area and the impact on civilian safety.

Doctors Without Borders reported treating 30 injured patients from October 18 to 26, with many taking hours to reach their facilities due to blocked roads and a collapsed healthcare system. The agency urged all parties to protect civilians and ensure access to medical care.