US Embassy Welcomes Haiti's Electoral Decree as 'Important Step' Toward August 2026 Elections

The United States Embassy in Port-au-Prince issued a statement on June 6, 2026, welcoming Haiti's updated electoral decree as 'an important step in the process leading to elections.' The electoral decree, originally approved by the Council of Ministers on December 1, 2025, establishes the framework for Haiti's first general elections in a decade: first-round voting August 30, 2026; second-round December 6, 2026; presidential inauguration February 7, 2027. The US Embassy endorsement underscores continued Washington backing for the transitional framework led by PM Fils-Aimé and the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP). However, the electoral process faces acute obstacles: PM Fils-Aimé stated on May 12 that 'security conditions are not met' for August elections; voter registration has not formally begun; 23 communes remain inaccessible due to gang control; and 75–90% of Port-au-Prince remains under gang control with the GSF advance force at ~800 of the 5,500-person authorized ceiling. UN Special Representative Ruiz Massieu and youth organizations continue to frame elections as essential for restoring constitutional legitimacy even under imperfect conditions. The CEP's May 6 requirement that parties register 30,000 members to field candidates has reduced the effective pool from 320 approved parties, complicating the calendar.