PARIS, Nov 13, CMC – The Group of Seven (G7) countries have underscored the importancce of holding democratic elections in Haiti even as they have taken “took note of the postponement of the first round of elections to July 2027”.
In a joint statement following two-days of meeting, the G7 foreign affairs ministers, said while acknowledging the progress made by the Haitian government and the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) in their efforts to move Haiti toward elected governance, “we emphasized the need to preserve the credibility and integrity of the electoral process, and stressed the responsibility of the Haitian authorities to ensure the full and impartial implementation of the electoral decree.”
The G7 grouping, which consists of seven major advanced economies, with the European Union participating as a non-enumerated partner, has also “called for concrete results that will strengthen public confidence in the electoral process and contribute to the credibility of the return to democratic governance.
“We have noted with concern the participation in the political process of individuals subject to sanctions, which undermines both the principle of accountability and public trust. The people of Haiti have the right to determine their own future through democratic processes and through leaders who work with integrity in the service of the public interest,” the G7 foreign ministers said in their joint statement.
The last presidential election took pace in 2016 when Jovenel Moise was elected to office, but he was assassinated at his private residence overlooking the capital in July 2021.
Since then an interim government has been in office and since April 2024, Haiti has held no national elections.
The CEP has postponed the first round of the long-delayed elections to July 18, 2027, after canceling two dates in 2026. The second round is set for October 4, amid persistent security concerns and criticism of electoral planning. If the revised calendar holds, Haitians will have to wait at least another year to learn who will lead them out of the enduring political transition.
In its joint statement, the G7 foreign ministers said that they support and welcome the renewal of the mandate of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) until the end of March 2027, which aims to assist Haitian forces in restoring security and stability in Haiti.
“We also welcomed the renewal of the United Nations sanctions regime, which seeks to ensure that individuals and entities threatening peace, security, and stability in Haiti are held accountable.
“We called upon the international community to support the strengthening of the Haitian National Police and the Armed Forces of Haiti, the rule of law, and the fight against impunity. Furthermore, we urged all security actors present in Haiti to prioritize the protection of Haitian civilians in all of their security operations.”
They said they also “remain deeply concerned by the ongoing humanitarian crisis, widespread violence, and reports of human rights violations in Haiti.
“We have urged the international community to increase its financial contributions to the United Nations trust fund, as the success of the UN-mandated hybrid mission depends on sustained multilateral support to fund its operations. We have called on the international community to provide essential support for humanitarian aid in Haiti, in order to address the multiple crises facing the Haitian people.”
The United Nations on Wednesday reported that at least 1,167 people were killed in Haiti during the period July to September this year.
Deputy UN spokesman, Farhan Haq, said that another 459 persons had been injured during the same period “as serious human rights violations and abuse continued in Port-au-Prince and other parts of the country.
“Gang members were responsible for more than 45 per cent of those killed or injured, ” Haq said, noting that the UN officials in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country, had also documented a sharp increase in kidnappings and hundreds of cases of sexual violence perpetrated by gang members, as well as the continued recruitment and exploitation of children.
In their statement, the G7 foreign affairs ministers have also emphasized the importance of laying the groundwork for Haiti’s economic recovery, with the assistance of international financial institutions and other multilateral partners.
“We have welcomed the pact concluded between the World Bank and the Haitian authorities, which provides a common framework for assessing reform efforts led by the Haitian authorities and for strengthening accountability for the results achieved.
“We have committed to working with a diverse range of Haitian and international partners to promote greater cooperation and complementarity of efforts,” they said in their joint statement.
CMC/hg/ir/2026