Haiti - February 2023

On 6 February, Prime Minister Ariel Henry formally installed a high transition council (HCT), tasked with developing an electoral road map and ensuring conditions are in place for the long-awaited elections in Haiti. This is Henry’s latest effort to deliver on his promise to hold elections, which have been postponed since October 2020, and transition from his caretaker government after taking office in July 2021 following the assassination of president Jovenel Moïse.

Appointed by PM Henry, the HTC is comprised of three representatives (civil society, political parties and private sector) tasked to deliver the essential mechanisms to organize general elections and facilitate a transition, which is expected to last 14 months. The HTC will select the representatives of the required provisional electoral council in preparation for elections and is also responsible for promoting political dialogue during the transition period, collaborating with government officials on issues regarding constitutional and economic reforms, as well as implementation of strategies to reduce gang violence. Ariel’s announcement was followed by a resolution passed by the Organization of American States (OAS) on 10 February, proposing the creation of a working group to address the security crisis in Haiti and facilitate the support of free, fair, and legitimate elections.

However, Haitians have continuously called for Henry’s resignation and are hesitant the HTC will be able to guarantee elections. The unilateral installation has also been extensively criticized by members from the opposition and civil society who argue the HTC lacks the necessary ‘broad consensus among the diverse sections in the country’ and could worsen the current security and humanitarian crisis.

Sources:Haiti Libre, Reuters, Associated Press, Caribbean National Weekly, People Dispatch,  Organization of American States