OAS warns about criminal ties in the Haitian electoral process
The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, has issued a strong warning ahead of the upcoming elections in Haiti. The official underscored the need to prevent individuals with ties to criminal organizations from participating in the electoral race, emphasizing that the integrity of the candidates is fundamental to the nation’s democratic stability.
Ramdin pointed out that, while the responsibility for vetting and screening applicants lies exclusively with the Haitian authorities, the international community observes with deep concern the existing collusion between certain political sectors and the armed gangs operating in the country.
No one with ties to criminal organizations should be allowed to participate in elections. It is a cause for concern that there are links between politicians and armed gangs, which puts the credibility of the entire process at risk.
Albert Ramdin, Secretary General of the OAS
Challenges in electoral preparation
The OAS representative urged accelerating the preparatory phases, especially voter registration, which must be executed with greater intensity to avoid questioning the legitimacy of the results. Ramdin acknowledged that organizing an electoral process after a decade of inactivity, and under the control of armed groups in various areas, represents an extremely difficult logistical and social challenge.
- The official calendar sets the first round of the presidential and legislative elections for December 13, 2026.
- The second round is scheduled for February 21, 2027.
- Violence in Haiti has caused, according to recent figures from international organizations, at least 3,050 deaths and 1,401 injuries in the first half of the year.
Migration crisis and human rights
During his speech, Ramdin also addressed the situation of Haitian migrants in the face of deportation policies. With the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States for thousands of Haitian citizens, the secretary general advocated for an organized return.
While acknowledging the sovereignty of countries to manage their migration policy, he made an emphatic call to respect the human rights of returnees and to maintain close coordination with Haitian authorities to ensure that return processes are carried out under dignified and structured conditions.
