UNITED NATIONS (CMC) — Haiti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Raina Forbin on Monday said her country needs “free, credible, inclusive and above all participatory elections” as she urged the international community not to abandon the French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country in its time of need.

The last time Haitians voted someone into power was in 2016. The last President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in July 2021 and since then, armed gangs have seized control of almost the entire capital, Port-au-Prince, as well as large swathes of rural areas of Haiti.

Addressing the United Nations (UN) Security Council, Forbin said that elections which restore trust, strengthen democratic legitimacy as well as pave the way to lasting peace and stability must be encouraged.

“This is what 12 million men, women and children in Haiti are hoping for. Today, seven of Haiti’s 10 departments are ready for electoral activities without any major security impediments,” Forbin said.

She said that the deployment of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in the three remaining departments is absolutely vital to guarantee that every Haitian citizen can exercise his or her fundamental right to choosing his or her leaders freely without impediments.

The GSF is a 5,550-strong, UN-backed multinational security mission authorised under UN Security Council Resolution 2793 to neutralise armed groups controlling parts of Port-au-Prince. It operates in coordination with the Haitian National Police to secure critical infrastructure and protect civilians.

It was formed to replace the underfunded, smaller Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission. It is empowered not only to support local police but to conduct intelligence-led arrest operations.

“Security is a necessary bedrock for legitimate elections. The Government has taken significant steps to restore security,” Forbin said, noting that since January this year, over 2,000 police personnel have been trained within the framework of the government programme.

She said 1,500 new members are being recruited into the armed forces and that “if progress continues as planned, by the end of this year, the national police would have been reinforced by 4,000 additional police personnel.

“Meanwhile, the armed forces would see 1,500 new servicemen join their ranks. Our objective is clear. Aggressively consolidating Haitian security institutions so that they can uphold our country’s security,” she told the UN Security Council.

She told the council that the children of Haiti are the first to be hard-hit by the security and humanitarian crisis facing Haiti and it is for their benefit that “we should work together so as to restore security in a lasting fashion so that they can grow up in peace, access education and build the future that they deserve”.

She expressed support for Caricom’s statement made at the UN Security Council, saying that today she would like to send a message of hope, “both to our international partners and the people of Haiti”.

“Genuine progress is being made on the ground. We are closer than we’ve been in years to restoring security and holding elections that are free, credible, inclusive and participatory. Now is not the time to back down. It’s the time for the international community to stand resolutely side by side with the Haitian people, to lock in progress that’s already been made and to help Haiti to return to the path to peace, security, stability, democracy and hope, and this in a lasting fashion,” she added.

Forbin said that despite the challenges, Haiti is making progress and the Haitian security forces, as well as the GSF are fully mobilised with a view to restoring security.

“Our Government remains fully committed to restoring constitutional order, all the while implementing the reforms that are necessary for strengthening security, reinforcing public institutions and improving the lives of our people, especially the living conditions. The electoral process today has gone further than it’s ever gone over the last decade. Two of the three phases necessary for the holding of national elections have already been completed,” Forbin said.

She said that the remaining phase falls to the Provisional Electoral Council, which should publish the official electoral calendar in the coming days.

“The political party registration process has been completed. The voter registration process is underway. The electoral process is fully operational because now more than ever, the Haitian Government stands convinced that the only way for Haiti to make progress lies in the holding of elections,” Forbin said.

She said that three internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps have been closed, allowing many families to go back to their homes.

In parallel, the Government is pledging a new approach to the humanitarian response, moving from aid to trade, she said, noting that the goal is to create long-term opportunities for the Haitian people, especially for the youth.

“Alongside these efforts, we’ve reactivated our National Disarmament, Dismantlement and Reintegration Commission. We are also continuing the implementation of significant reforms to the judiciary, the objective being to strengthen the rule of law and accountability,” Forbin said.

The foreign affairs minister said two specialised chambers aimed at punishing mass crimes, sexual violence and serious financial crimes have been inaugurated.

“Nonetheless, we’re cognisant that progress is fragile. It is in this spirit that we call on the Security Council to support the full deployment of the Gang Suppression Force, as well as the renewal of its mandate, so as to furnish it with the support it requires to fulfil its mission. Genuine progress has been made on the ground. Now is not the time to back down. Madam President, for far too long, Haiti was defined by its crises. Today, Haiti wants recognition for the progress it’s made,” she said.

Forbin said Haitians are demonstrating remarkable resilience with the country’s institutions continuing to operate.

“Security is improving. Recapturing of territory is ongoing. The electoral process is progressing. The Republic of Haiti, under the leadership of the Prime Minister Alex Didier Fils-Aimé, is making progress. The momentum is genuine. We cannot lose this momentum. This is why we need partnerships. We need sustained international commitment, so as to lock in the progress that’s already been made,” Forbin said.