Michel Martelly registers for Haiti presidency despite US and EU sanctions

Former Haitian President Michel Martelly (2011–2016) formally registered his candidacy for the presidency on Friday, despite being under sanctions from the United States and the European Union for alleged ties to drug trafficking and armed groups. He submitted his paperwork to the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) in Port-au-Prince as a candidate for the Debloke coalition. The elections are scheduled for December 13, but their holding remains uncertain after the CEP postponed the start of the campaign and has yet to release a new calendar Source: Hoy, El Día, Listín Diario, infobae, Diario Libre.

The candidate and his sanctions

Martelly, known as 'Sweet Micky' during his music career, was sanctioned in August 2024 by the U.S. Treasury's OFAC, which accused him of facilitating drug trafficking to the United States, laundering drug proceeds, and collaborating with Haitian drug traffickers. In December 2025, the European Union also imposed sanctions on him for alleged links to violence and human rights abuses in Haiti Source: Hoy, El Día, Listín Diario, infobae, Diario Libre.

Other candidates and the crisis context

Other presidential hopefuls include former interim president Jocelerme Privert, former prime minister Claude Joseph, and former Chamber of Deputies president Gary Bodeau, who is also sanctioned by the U.S. for alleged corruption. All sources agree that the candidacies are announced amid a deep political and security crisis in Haiti, marked by gang violence. The UN reports that more than 5,700 people have been killed or injured this year due to gang violence, along with over 230 kidnappings and the rape of more than 1,000 women and girls Source: Hoy, El Día, Listín Diario, infobae, Diario Libre.

Election uncertainty

The presidential and legislative elections, already postponed several times, are in doubt. The CEP has delayed the start of the campaign and has not yet published a new electoral calendar. The last popularly elected president, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated in July 2021 Source: Hoy, El Día, Listín Diario, infobae, Diario Libre.