Presidential elections in Haiti again postponed, new date announced

Authorities in Haiti have once again postponed the elections to elect the successor to assassinated President Jovenel Moïse until November 7, a spokesman for the Electoral Council confirmed on Thursday.

Richard Dumel said that the nine-member council on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, agreed on the new date for the elections, which originally took place on September 26.

He did not mention why the ballot was suspended to a later date. The Haitians will also vote in favour of a new Legislative Assembly and a referendum on September 26.

President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated on July 7, when armed mercenaries attacked his private home. His wife, Martine Moïse, was seriously injured but recovered days after the attack.

Police have arrested more than 40 suspects, but it is still unclear who was the mastermind behind the plan to kill him. Among the suspects are 18 former Colombian veterans and 20 Haitian police officers, including President's security chief.

The recently appointed Prime Minister Ariel Henry pledged to hold elections as soon as feasible and declared his government favours a free and open vote. Widow of President Moise, Martine Moise in an interview with the New York Times, indicated her candidature for upcoming elections, while she also said she fears her life from her husband's killers.

The most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been battling political instability for decades.

During his reign, Moïse faced protests from people who demanded that he steps down from his position, while massive gang violence continued to destroy parts of the country.

Political tensions rose in February as some opposition leaders claimed that Moïse's legal term was over. Moïse claims that his term of office ended in February 2022 because he was not sworn in until 2017.

Social activists believe that Haiti is experiencing the worse unrest in history, with people dying because of COIVD-19, abduction for ransom becoming more rampant, and gangs take over roads every other day.