Wyclef Jean has officially withdrawn his candidacy for president of Haiti. (Richard Drew/Associated Press)
The 40-year-old Grammy Award-winning artist said in a statement on Tuesday that he is leaving Haitian politics to promote a new album.
"This was not an easy conclusion to reach," the former Fugees singer said, "but it is one that was thoughtfully made, taking into account many, many competing factors."
In early August, Jean announced his intent to run for president of the impoverished Caribbean island nation in its Nov. 28 election, but he was disqualified by Haiti's Provincial Electoral Council.
No official reasons were given, but Haitian law requires that candidates reside in the country for five consecutive years prior to running.
Although Jean was born in Haiti, he lived in New Jersey with his wife and daughter during that time.
He filed an appeal, saying he would exhaust all legal avenues to get on the ballot.
But he has now decided to focus on his music.
His new album, If I Were President, the Haitian Experience, will be released in February, followed by a worldwide tour.