Holding elections has been seen as a crucial step towards stabilising Haiti's government and tackling rampant gang crime. (EPA Images pic)

PORT-AU-PRINCE: Haiti, which has been engulfed by years of gang violence and political chaos, has indefinitely postponed elections due to be held later this year, officials said Tuesday.

Haiti has not held elections since 2016, and its last president, assassinated in 2021, has not been replaced.

The first round of presidential and legislative elections was set for December 13, and the second round for Feb 21, 2027.

"The period originally scheduled for the electoral campaign has been postponed," the Provisional Electoral Council's statement said, omitting any mention of a new election date and adding that the timetable "will be made public as soon as possible."