Haiti: UN chief ‘deeply concerned’ as agreed upon election deadline goes unmet

Deeply concerned that the agreed upon date for holding elections in Haiti was not met over the weekend and that no alternate electoral calendar was announced, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today reiterated his strong support for the completion, “without delay,” of the 2015 polls.

A statement issued by his spokesperson noted that the agreed upon date of 24 April set in the 5 February Agreement for the holding of elections in Haiti was not met.

“The Secretary-General reiterates his strong support for the completion, without further delay, of the 2015 elections and calls on all Haitian actors to ensure the prompt return to constitutional order, as the country can ill afford a period of prolonged transitional governance while facing major socio-economic and humanitarian challenges,” said the statement.

Noting the intended establishment of a commission to evaluate and verify the elections held in 2015, Mr. Ban in his statement stressed the need to conclude the process with the required urgency.

“The Secretary-General reaffirms the commitment of the United Nations to extend its full support to the Haitian people in the fulfilment of their democratic aspirations,” the statement concluded.

The political agreement signed February 5, 2016 between the main political actors in the country set out a roadmap for the rapid conclusion of the electoral process initiated in Haiti August 9, 2015.