WashingtonU.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday during a visit to Haiti that he hoped an electoral council would soon be established to organize elections in the country next year.
Following a meeting with Transitional Presidential Council Coordinator Edgard Leblanc Fils, Blinken said they discussed the electoral council.
“We hope that it will be established soon, because it is a fundamental step to move forward and organize next year’s elections,” he told reporters in Port-au-Prince, according to a live video.
Blinken is visiting Haiti as the country continues to battle violent gangs that have taken over much of the capital and begun moving into nearby regions. Prime Minister Garry Conille on Wednesday extended a state of emergency to the entire country.
Blinken said in a separate meeting with Conille that the situation in Haiti was “very difficult” but “promising,” and praised the progress made since the transitional council was established in April following the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
Kenyan police officers as part of a UN-backed security mission began arriving in Haiti in June.
The United States is the largest contributor to the mission Henry requested in 2022 to help fight gangs and recover territory.
“Security is the foundation for everything that needs to happen going forward,” Blinken said, noting that includes holding elections.
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– 2024-09-10 02:50:23
