Haiti: UN Warns Time Is Running Out to Restore Democratic Institutions - Briefing | United Nations

The head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti said, the country “has entered a critical phase in the process of restoring its democratic institutions.”

The UN Security Council met for a briefing on Haiti, as the country approaches a key political deadline with its transitional authorities set to expire on 7 February.

Briefing Council members, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti warned that the end of the current transition leaves little room for delay.

Ruiz Massieu said, “it is imperative that national stakeholders work to contain political fragmentation, set aside their differences, preserve institutional continuity, and focus on organizing elections.”

“Let us be clear,” he added, “the country has no time to waste on prolonged internecine fighting.”

He called on political actors, institutions, civil society, the private sector, and religious and community leaders to “prioritize the national interest and act with responsibility and restraint.”

Ruiz Massieu acknowledged recent steps taken by Haitian authorities to advance the electoral process, after years of delay.

He said, “steps taken in recent months to advance electoral preparations are particularly encouraging,” citing “the adoption of an electoral decree on 1 December and the publication of an electoral calendar on 23 December.”

He said the measures “provide an operational framework for moving forward.”

On security, Ruiz Massieu pointed to changes in international support arrangements, following a surge in gang violence and the expansion of armed groups beyond the capital.

He said, “the transition of the Multinational Security Support Mission to the Gang Suppression Force, alongside the establishment of the United Nations Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH), as authorized by resolution 2793, represents a critical step to enhance international support to assist Haiti.”

Council members also heard from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, which presented findings on the evolution of criminal networks in Haiti.

Acting UNODC Executive Director John Brandolino said criminal violence in Haiti has become more organized and entrenched. He said, “taken together, the findings point to a crisis that has grown more violent, more systemic, and more embedded.”

He said groups that once operated as “fragmented local gangs or vigilante forces” have reorganized into “structured criminal networks with defined leadership, territorial ambitions, and diversified revenue streams.”

“Many have consolidated themselves into federated coalitions,” he added, “and in some cases now even frame their activities in political language.”

Brandolino highlighted the role of major gang alliances in destabilizing the country.
He said “Viv Ansanm, one of the most prominent coalitions, has coordinated large-scale attacks against the police, prisons, and key economic infrastructure.”

He said consolidation among armed groups has strengthened their ability to operate, allowing them to “pool their resources, withstand leadership losses, and expand their influence.”

“As a result,” Brandolino said, “armed groups have gained near-total control both within Port-au-Prince and along key corridors into Artibonite and Plateau Central.”

Speaking on behalf of Haiti, Ambassador Pierre Ericq Pierre stressed the need to avoid a political vacuum as the transition deadline approaches.

He said, “this moment calls for a balanced assessment of the efforts made under this agreement, while taking into account the persistent challenges, particularly those related to the security environment and institutional constraints.”

Pierre said it is essential to act “with a sense of responsibility and foresight in order to preserve the continuity of the State and avoid any disruption that could affect the functioning of national institutions.”

He said the Presidential Transitional Council has taken steps to promote “a new framework for inclusive dialogue,” bringing together political and institutional actors and civil society.

“The objective remains,” he said, “to reach, in a climate of consultation and consensus, another political agreement that would allow for the continuation of an orderly transition, prevent any institutional vacuum, and consolidate the conditions for a credible return to constitutional order.”