Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé•©️photo : Primature
Pétion-Ville, March 24, 2026.- The government relaunches the national identification programme, but on the ground, the difficulties persist. On a visit to the National Identification Office, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé announced the resumption of the project « Kat or », with the provision of 500,000 identification cards and the printing of 250,000 new units. An announcement presented as a step towards modernising the system, in a context where many citizens are still struggling to obtain this essential document.
Despite the official revival, access to the identification card remains complicated in several areas of the country. Insecurity, limited travel and the irregular operation of some registration centres continue to slow down, particularly in metropolitan areas and in some provincial cities. For part of the population, administrative procedures remain difficult to complete, even when operations are officially under way.
However, the national identification card remains indispensable in everyday life. It provides access to many public services and is an essential document for the exercise of civil rights. In the run-up to the upcoming elections, the issue of population registration is becoming particularly sensitive.
The authorities point out the figures announced when the programme was relaunched, but the question of effective distribution remains. Producing maps does not guarantee their delivery to citizens, especially in a context where security and logistical constraints continue to hamper the deployment of public services.
Another problem regularly raised by users is the material quality of maps. Several citizens denounce their fragility, some being quickly damaged after delivery. The government states that the new maps will be designed with more advanced technologies to ensure better resistance and longer lifespan, without specifying at the moment the timetable for the generalization of these new media.
The authorities also refer to a relative improvement in the security situation in certain areas attributed to the actions of the National Police of Haiti, the Armed Forces of Haiti and units engaged in the fight against armed groups. A development deemed necessary to allow the normal resumption of public services, including national identification.
The revival of « Kat or » The government recently announced a single national identity card, based on an individual identification number and more secure cards. Presented as a major reform of the identification system, this initiative remains for the time being unclear, and no clarification has been given on its articulation with the programme currently being relaunched.
Between modernization announcements and persistent constraints, the national identification project remains one of the most sensitive files for administration. The success of the programme will depend less on the number of cards announced than on the State's ability to reach the entire population, in a country where access to official documents remains uneven.
W.E.
