Haiti Forms Provisional Electoral Council to Organize First Elections Since 2016

Haiti’s political crisis has deepened since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, leaving the nation without a president. In response, the Haitian government formed a provisional electoral council on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, to oversee the country’s first general elections since 2016.

This newly established council comprises representatives from various sectors, including farmers, journalists, human rights advocates, and members of the Vodou community. Its task is to create a legal framework and prepare for elections scheduled by 2026.

Currently, the council has seven members, as confirmed by a statement from the prime minister’s office on the platform X. Two additional seats, allocated for human rights and women’s rights representatives, remain vacant but are expected to be filled shortly. Smith Augustin, a member of the transitional presidential council, stated that the remaining appointments would likely be finalized in the coming days. Legally, the council must consist of nine members.