January 29, 2026
The U.S. government has announced visa restrictions against Fritz Alphonse Jean, a member of the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC), accusing him of supporting gangs and other criminal networks. The decision, made public Monday evening, risks deepening instability in a country where armed groups control 90% of the capital and are expanding into central regions.
Jean, a former Central Bank governor and former president of the TPC , confirmed that he is targeted by the measures and rejected the accusations in an interview with the Associated Press. He claims that American and Canadian diplomats threatened council members with sanctions as soon as they discussed replacing the head of government.
Although Haiti was expected to hold elections by February 7, ongoing insecurity makes the timetable impossible. The Provisional Electoral Council now envisions elections in August and December 2026, in a country without a president since the assassination of Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
