Haiti's Current Crisis and Historical Context

Introduction

• Sponsored by Nebula
• Overview of Haiti's turbulent situation
• Gunfire and chaos in Port-au-Prince, where 300 gangs battle for control.
• Acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry unable to stabilize the situation.

Current Situation

• Gang Control:

  • Gangs control 80% of Port-au-Prince
  • Powerful leaders: Izo and Jimmy Chérizier ("Barbecue")
  • Izo controls waterways, Palais de Justice, known for murder and kidnappings
  • Chérizier leads the G9 Alliance and aims to overthrow Ariel Henry

• Violence and Crime Rates:

  • Nearly 5,000 homicides in 2023; murder rate rose from 6.7 to 40.9 per 100,000
  • Kidnappings escalated from 700 in 2021 to 3,000 in 2023
  • Ransom rates surged to $40,000
  • 362,000 displaced, 1.4 million on brink of starvation

• Impact on Society:

  • Schools closed, hospitals lack supplies
  • Unprecedented levels of poverty and violence
  • Cholera outbreak due to cut-off water treatment services

Historical Context

• Colonial History:

  • Hispaniola colonized by Spain and later France
  • French colony of Saint-Domingue depended on slave labor for sugar and coffee production
  • Slaves outnumbered free population significantly

• Rebellion and Independence:

  • 1791: Slave rebellion leads to Haitian independence in 1804
  • First Black republic and independent nation in Latin America, but France refused to recognize Haiti
  • France demanded reparations for lost property, leading to crippling debt

• Debt and American Occupation:

  • Haiti paid 150 million francs in reparations, which led to a "double debt"
  • 1914: U.S. Marines invaded, controlling Haiti for 19 years
  • National City Bank and French banks profited from Haiti's resources

• Dictatorship and Corruption:

  • Rise of dictatorships under François Duvalier (Papa Doc) and his son Baby Doc
  • Tonton Macoute, Duvalier's secret police, terrorized the population

• Economic Exploitation:

  • U.S. and World Bank policies exacerbated poverty by promoting export-oriented agriculture
  • Eradication of local livestock (e.g., Creole pigs) devastated local farmers

• Political Turmoil:

  • 1986: Baby Doc flees after popular uprisings
  • 1991: Jean-Bertrand Aristide becomes first democratically elected president
  • U.S. intervention reinstalled Aristide after military coup

Recent Events

• Earthquake and Aftermath (2010):

  • 7.0 magnitude quake causes massive destruction, killing 220,000
  • Aid predominantly allocated to foreign NGOs rather than local support
  • Rebuilding efforts failed to engage local communities, leading to further dependency

• Continued Violence:

  • Under Ariel Henry, gang violence worsened; political vacuum persists
  • Assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021
  • Following Moïse’s assassination, an earthquake in August 2021 further complicates recovery efforts

Conclusion

• Haiti faces a dire humanitarian and political crisis shaped by historical exploitation and foreign intervention
• The state has largely collapsed; gangs operate with increasing power and influence
• Immediate need for international and local initiatives to address the underlying issues and rebuild society.