Haiti's Elections Hit a Roadblock: Gangs and Chaos Delay Democracy

Haiti is in a tough spot. Elections won't happen before February 2026. Why? Gangs are running wild, making it too dangerous to vote. The last elections were in 2016. The president was killed in 2021. Since then, gangs have taken over big parts of the country. The electoral council tried to check voting centers in June. But many places were too risky to reach. Now, even more areas are cut off. Towns like La Chapelle and Liancourt are now off-limits. The U. N. says only about half the population might be able to vote. That's not good. The interim government had planned elections for November 2025. But that's not happening now. The U. N. warns that Haiti can't afford more political chaos. The current government's term ends on February 7, 2026. That's a big deal. In the past, leaders have ignored this deadline. It usually leads to protests. Political groups in Haiti can't agree on what to do next. Some want to extend the interim government's term. Others want a Supreme Court judge to take over. Meanwhile, the Viv Ansanm gang alliance controls most of the capital. They've even called themselves a political party. The U. S. sees them as terrorists. They're blamed for thousands of killings and other crimes. Life in Haiti is hard. Half the population struggles to get enough food. Over 1. 3 million people have been forced from their homes. Many live with friends or in crowded camps. The situation is dire. Something needs to change.