The recent collapse of law and order in Haiti follows two centuries of colonial misrule. RFI looks at the cycle of corruption, desperation and authoritarian rule that have shaped the history of the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
Attack and take of the Crête-à-Pierrot, Haïti, March 1802. Original illustration by Auguste Raffet, engraving by Ernst Hébert. © wikimedia commons
By:David Coffey
24/12/2024 -
At the core of Haiti's struggle lie predatory interventions by powerful nations, principally France and the United States.
Speaking recently to RFI, Haitian author, playwright and former politician Gary Victor said that the international community is making the same mistakes in 2024 as it has done in the past.
"I wonder how – after all the time spent in Haiti – the international community doesn't understand what's going on,” Victor said.
“When we talk about a foreign force for Haiti … first of all, there has to be political will within the country to resolve the security issues. That’s why [previous UN missions] totally failed in Haiti, because the force was co-opted by corruption and delinquency in Haiti."
The cost of revolution
Haiti's present turmoil traces its genesis back to the colony of Saint Domingue – ruled by France in the 17th and 18th centuries – where the exploitation of African slaves fuelled a trade in coffee and sugar.
The vast wealth created by slave labour on the plantations was matched by the brutality of their colonial owners, who kept their slaves in line using violence.
The struggle against colonial rule came to a head in 1791 with a slave rebellion that ultimately led to the creation of the Republic of Haiti in 1804. Slavery was officially abolished in Haiti on 1 January, 1804.
France, enraged by the loss of its colonial prize in the Caribbean, demanded exorbitant reparations from Haiti, pushing the newly formed nation into a cycle of debt that hindered the country's development.
The "Double Debt" scheme was a key part of the problem shackling Haiti to “independence debt” owed to Paris banks along with extortionate loan fees with repayments equivalent to an overwhelming percentage of its annual revenue.
"Revenge taken by the Black Army for the Cruelties practised on them by the French". Illustration by British soldier and self-admitted "admirer of Toussaint L'Ouverture" Marcus Rainsford from his 1805 book "An historical account of the black empire of Hayti". © wikimedia commons
US fears
As the first, liberated Black nation, the neighbouring United States saw Haiti’s independence as an existential threat to its own, slave-based economy, and bears much of the blame for the country's ills.
After French colonisers left Haiti, the United States worked to isolate the country diplomatically and strangle it economically.
American leaders feared a newly independent and free Haiti would inspire slave revolts back home and did not officially recognise Haiti until 1862 during the Civil War that abolished American slavery.
As Haiti grappled with the burdens of emancipation, the United States seized upon the turmoil in the era of “gunboat diplomacy”, orchestrating a military occupation from 1915 to 1934 under the guise of safeguarding American interests.
US President Woodrow Wilson sent an expeditionary force that would occupy the country for two decades to collect unpaid debts to foreign powers – a period marred by coerced labour and economic subjugation.
US Marines and guide in search of 'bandits'. Haiti, circa 1919. © wikimedia commonsUN launches emergency appeal for Haiti as Benin mulls joining multinational security mission
The Duvalier dictatorships
The subsequent decades of the 20th Century witnessed Haiti's descent into an abyss of political instability, natural catastrophes, and the relentless spectre of foreign debt.
Estimates suggest that the legacy of coerced payments to France – that Paris has repeatedly downplayed – ensnared Haiti in an economic quagmire, depriving it of resources crucial for development, ushering in an era of gang violence coupled with brutal dictatorships.
François "Papa Doc" Duvalier and his son Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" employed the ruthless militia dubbed the “Tontons Macoutes” to crush opposition during their rule between 1957 and 1986.
While subsequent leaders also forged alliances with armed groups, the gangs have now risen above the politicians that empowered them.
Armed gangs now control large parts of the capital Port-au-Prince, where they kidnap people off the street for ransom and spread fear by sharing gruesome pictures and videos on social media of people being tortured, raped or killed.
Haitian president François Duvalier (a.k.a. Papa Doc) at his coronation as president for life, Port-au-Prince, Haiti 1963. © wikimedia commonsImpunity and ‘persistent’ human rights violations
According to Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International, this crisis is the result of decades of political instability, extreme poverty, natural disasters, weakened state structures and a lack of strong commitments from the international community, all of which have exposed the population to violence.
“Military solutions or external interventions have failed to address the causes of the crisis and – far from promoting lasting stability – have left in their wake persistent human rights violations and impunity,” she said.
Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, Haiti has been plunged into another humanitarian, political, and security crisis, with the emergence of powerful criminal gangs who have seized control over vast swathes of territory, including critical infrastructure like ports and airports.
In early March of this year, one such gang orchestrated the escape of more than 3,600 prisoners, instigating widespread terror across Haiti and prompting Prime Minister Ariel Henry's resignation.
"The images of violence that this crisis has given us are terrifying. The criminal gangs that are currently sowing terror must know that the seriousness of their actions makes them accountable and that they can be prosecuted for crimes under international law and serious human rights violations. The suffering of so many people cannot go unpunished," according to Amnesty International
Anarchy or order?
Prime Minister Henry was last seen in Puerto Rico, negotiating his return to a homeland gripped by extreme violence while a UN-backed security force is still waiting to be deployed to challenge the heavily armed gangsters.
With his fate in the air and the situation in Haiti deteriorating by the day, the world has been left to wonder whether the country will descend into anarchy or whether some semblance of order will be restored.
"We don't have the impression that the international community is our friend," author Gary Victor told RFI.
This story was first published on 29 April 2024 and appears as part of our review of the year.
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