Security, Elections, and National Unity: Squaring the Circle of the Transition

Port-au-Prince, November 28, 2025 – As the government accelerated its review of the electoral decree this Friday, the day before, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, during a security conference, laid out the indispensable condition for any election: the reconquest of the territory. This tight sequence highlights the perilous but structured roadmap of the transitional authorities, where security and the electoral process appear as two inseparable sides of the same coin: the restoration of the State. The (FRG) Gang Repression Force, New Spearhead Against Gangs: A Double-Edged Signal The 5th conference of the Sectoral Security Table (TSS), organized by CARDH, had a precise objective: the transformation of the MMAS into the Gang Repression Force (FRG). Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé saw it as a “signal of hope for the population,” opening a “new phase” in the fight against insecurity. For many analysts, this announcement is significant in several respects. Firstly, it marks a doctrinal evolution: the shift from a general “security” mission to a targeted assignment of “gang repression.” This specialization is a tactical response to the hydra of organized crime. Secondly, the joint presence of the (UN) United Nations, the (OAS) Organization of American States, the (PNH) Haitian National Police, and the (FAd’H) Haitian Armed Forces demonstrates an attempt to build a united front and coordination that has long been absent. However, the optimistic discourse must be tempered by pragmatism. The FRG is, in essence, merely a reorientation of existing forces. Its success will depend not only on its equipment and training but, above all, on its ability to operate in a functional judicial environment capable of processing arrested individuals. The fight against impunity, mentioned by the head of government, remains the weak link in this chain. When Security and Elections Become Inseparable in a Dialectical Link The most crucial declaration by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé is unequivocal: “security remains the essential condition for holding the next elections.” This affirmation establishes a logical dependence that no one can dispute, but it also raises a thorny question: what is the acceptable security threshold to trigger the electoral process? Analysts reveal a profound dilemma here. On one hand, organizing elections in areas still largely controlled by gangs would be a dangerous masquerade, exposing citizens and compromising the legitimacy of the ballot. On the other hand, waiting for a total and illusory pacification of the territory would amount to postponing democratic restoration indefinitely, fueling an endless transition cycle. The simultaneous maneuver on both fronts – accelerating the electoral decree and strengthening the security apparatus – is therefore a strategic calculation. The aim is to prepare the legal framework to be operational as soon as the security window allows, while reassuring the international community and national public opinion that the absolute priority remains the protection of civilians. National Unity, the Invisible Pillar of the Strategy Beyond technical measures, the Prime Minister insisted on a more intangible but equally critical element: the “necessity of strengthened national unity.” This is not a mere political rhetorical formula. In the Haitian context, national unity is the fuel without which no security or electoral effort can succeed. This unity is necessary to support the morale of law enforcement, often confronted with popular distrust. It is indispensable for creating a coherent social and political front against gangs, isolating them. Finally, it is the prerequisite for the acceptance of electoral results, ensuring that the process does not degenerate into a new political crisis. A Precarious Balance on the Edge of History The government and the CPT therefore seem engaged in a race against time, attempting to solve the most complex equation of the transition: securing to elect, and preparing elections to motivate security. The creation of the FRG is a cornerstone of this puzzle, as is the advancement of the electoral decree. The displayed support of the international community remains an asset, but it will not be enough. The key to success will lie in the authorities' ability to transform declarations of intention into concrete and visible actions on the ground, to build national unity that transcends traditional divisions, and to maintain this dual security and electoral effort in perfect synchronization. The stakes are nothing less than breaking the infernal cycle of violence and instability to offer the Haitian nation the future prospects it yearns for.