Holding elections in near future 'will be really difficult,' says Haiti PM
Key Points(5)
- Haiti's Prime Minister Garry Conille has issued an urgent plea for the swift completion of the international security mission in the country, expressing deep concern over the pace of support from the global community.
- Speaking in an interview with the BBC World Service’s Hard Talk podcast, Conille highlighted the dire situation in Haiti, stating that assistance is "coming too slowly" and that the Haitian people are growing increasingly impatient.
- Conille pointed out that the security mission currently consists of only two contingents, totaling about 400 personnel, which is far from sufficient to address the nation's security challenges.
- "We have about 103 police officers per 100,000 people.
- So I have no doubt that we are understaffed," he said, emphasizing the critical need for rapid fulfillment of commitments made by Haiti’s international partners and neighboring countries.
Haiti's Prime Minister Garry Conille has issued an urgent plea for the swift completion of the international security mission in the country, expressing deep concern over the pace of support from the global community.
The Prime Minister's plea comes just a week after the United Nations also called for the expedited deployment of international security forces in Haiti following a harrowing report that revealed at least 1,379 people were killed or wounded in gang violence, and 428 individuals were kidnapped in the country between April and June this year.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC World Service’s Hard Talk podcast, Conille highlighted the dire situation in Haiti, stating that assistance is "coming too slowly" and that the Haitian people are growing increasingly impatient.
Conille pointed out that the security mission currently consists of only two contingents, totaling about 400 personnel, which is far from sufficient to address the nation's security challenges. "We have about 103 police officers per 100,000 people. So I have no doubt that we are understaffed," he said, emphasizing the critical need for rapid fulfillment of commitments made by Haiti’s international partners and neighboring countries.
The Prime Minister voiced serious concerns about the fragile state of Haiti’s transitional government, which relies heavily on the anticipated support. "The Haitian people have been extremely patient. We have, and I say this, a very fragile transition team that is based on the expectation that the support will come soon," Conille remarked. He warned that as the political season approaches, there could be attempts to exploit the country's challenging circumstances.
The security mission saw its first contingent of Kenyan agents arrive in Haiti on June 25, but two months on, the situation remains precarious. The notorious "400 Mawozo" gang has seized control of several areas near the Dominican border, despite the presence of Kenyan forces, leaving both the population and authorities waiting for additional international reinforcements.
When asked if it would be possible to organize free and fair elections in Haiti by February 2026, Conille expressed doubt, saying that without immediate and substantial support—particularly in terms of security, humanitarian aid, and early recovery—"it will be really difficult."
