Haiti: UNIR party warns of election risks due to insecurity

Clarens Renois, the general coordinator of the UNIR party, has raised serious concerns regarding the feasibility and reliability of upcoming elections in Haiti. Speaking on Radio Nationale d’Haïti, Renois stated that current sociopolitical conditions are among the most severe since the post-Duvalier era, citing widespread insecurity and a lack of trust in the electoral machinery.

Renois highlighted the growing influence of armed gangs, which have seized control of multiple territories and engaged in frequent massacres. He specifically pointed to a recent massacre in Kenscoff, where dozens of people were reportedly killed, kidnapped, or sequestered. He criticized the state's insufficient response to this rising criminality, noting a lack of proportional sanctions or respect for victims.

The UNIR party is demanding justice and reparations for the victims of the Kenscoff violence and has criticized the actions of national security officials, including members of the Superior Council of the National Police (CSPN). Renois warned that the current environment, characterized by blocked access to Port-au-Prince and gang dominance, makes a credible and secure electoral process nearly impossible.