During its 82nd General Assembly, which concluded on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in Bogotá, Colombia, the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) described the state of press freedom in Haiti as "critical" citing the expansion of armed gangs and the deteriorating security conditions for journalists and media outlets.

"Journalism has become a high-risk profession : journalists face threats, kidnappings, assaults, and murders, as well as severe restrictions on their movement and access to sources," the IAPA stated in its report on Haiti.

The study notes that many media outlets have closed their doors, and numerous journalists have chosen to go into exile. Despite this, the press continues to play an essential role by keeping the public informed, particularly regarding high-risk areas.

"The United Nations has indicated that 14 media professionals have been murdered since 2021," the IAPA noted in its report, adding that "violence from armed gangs significantly shrinks the space available for the practice of journalism."

The kidnapping and murder last August of Joseph Willard Vancol, a journalist and director of the community radio station Ti Boukan FM, as well as the kidnapping on September 6 of Wesly Renaud Jean, a journalist for Radio Télé Métropole who remains missing, are stark examples of this violence.

"Furthermore, the fate of journalists Junior Célestin and Osnel Espérance, who have been missing since March and are presumed to have been executed, remains unknown," the report adds. The IAPA further highlighted that photojournalists Odelyn Joseph (AP) and Clarens Siffroy (AFP), along with Jonet St. Elois, a contributor to the EFE agency, were attacked on September 2nd while covering a funeral in the commune of Kenscoff, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. This is the same location where, just days earlier, 47 people had been killed in a massacre carried out by armed gangs. "The photojournalists were subjected to physical and verbal assaults by those present and by relatives of the deceased, who targeted the press while the event was being covered."

The organization added that the deteriorating security situation is also affecting the electoral process; it is now certain that the presidential and legislative elections cannot take place on December 13, although the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) has not yet set a new date for the vote.

HL/ HaitiLibre