
Haiti

Haiti is an authoritarian regime with a history of protracted political instability and socio-economic hardship. The latest GSoDI data (2021) shows that Haiti slipped from Hybrid status to Authoritarian status following an internal political crisis and the indefinite postponement of elections. Due to state dysfunction, violence and impunity are widespread, and excessive use of force by police is common. Since 2018, owing to state corruption, soaring inflation, surges in kidnappings and the lack of government action against gang crimes and killings, anti-government protests are frequent. Sexual and gender-based violence is prevalent and is used by gangs to instill fear. Haiti performs at a low level in Representative Government, Fundamental Rights, Impartial Administration and Participatory Engagement; it has seen a decline in Civil Liberties in particular, during the last five years. The poorest country in the Americas, Haiti’s poverty rate is estimated at nearly 60 per cent.
Haiti, the world’s first independent black republic, is challenged by a system of exclusion that favors the mulatto oligarchy of mixed European-African descent who control 95 per cent of the country’s wealth and occupy the highest positions of the state, to the detriment of the majority of the population (around 95 per cent) of mostly African descent. Haiti’s political and economic struggles are intricately linked to its history of Spanish and French colonization, which gave rise to a brutal slave trade. In 1804, Haiti became the world’s first state to be formed through a slave revolt and to permanently abolish slavery. However, the 150-million-franc indemnity imposed by France for recognition of Haiti’s independence impeded Haiti’s development, disrupted state-building and pushed the country into multiple cycles of debts. American influence and intervention, marked by an occupation (1915-1934) and the support for the Duvalier dictatorship (1957-1986) further stifled the country’s development. The dictatorship also ingrained a political culture of populism and gangs, overwhelming concerted efforts for democratic governance.
The 1987 Constitution symbolized the Haitian’s people’s outright rejection of the Duvalier dictatorship, and promoted democratic values such as direct universal suffrage, press freedom and decentralization of powers. The following decades, however, was marred by coups, violence, foreign military interventions and presidents being exiled with the country vacillating between dictatorship (military rule), democracy, and hybrid regimes. Both terms of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Haiti’s first democratically elected President, supported by the poorest but opposed by elites, were put to an end, first by a military coup (1991) and later by elite-supported former soldiers (2004). The latter led to the deployment of a UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSTAH). The country achieved some stability during the uninterrupted presidencies of René Préval (2006-2011) and Michel Martelly (2011-16), and despite the devastating 2010 earthquake, made significant humanitarian recovery and progress towards democracy by completing a long postponed electoral cycle in 2017. However, despite efforts to address governance and efficiency challenges through a constitutional reform process initiated in 2021, President Jovenel Moise’s assassination and another severe earthquake have created a power vacuum.
Over the next years, Haiti’s political context is expected to remain volatile. With the Prime Minister currently exercising executive power and a dysfunctional parliament, a return to constitutional order and the holding of elections are of utmost importance. However, the expansion of gangs’ territorial control, intensifying violence, lack of state accountability and weakening of political parties constitute major obstacles impacting all GSoDI attributes. The absence of a consensus on a political roadmap and the state’s inability to contain violence could risk Haiti’s further descent into a political and humanitarian crisis.
Monthly Updates
November 2022
Haiti’s authorities regained control of the country’s main oil terminal and seaports, ending a two-month blockade. This was a result of negotiations between acting Prime Minster Ariel Henry's administration and gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier who had been holding the infrastructure hostage, triggering fuel shortages and restricting the flow of essential goods and services. Nevertheless, the humanitarian crisis continues in the country amid surging gang violence and targeted attacks against members of the media. Against this backdrop, the United States and Canada imposed a number of sanctions targeted at senior Haitian politicians linked to drug trafficking and financing gangs. The sanctions seek to tackle Haiti’s history of patronage between political parties and violent gangs.
October 2022
The political and humanitarian crisis in Haiti deepens as anti-government protests continue, following intensified violence and unrest, gang blockades of the country’s main fuel source in Port-Au-Prince, and ensuing shortages of water, food, medical supplies, and hospitals without power. Haiti’s Health Ministry reported a new cholera outbreak on 2 October. This deterioration and exacerbated gang violence prompted PM Ariel Henry to call for a foreign armed intervention to stabilize the country. While the request has been considered by the United Nations and the Organization of American States, Haiti’s tense history of international interventions has left many doubtful of such missions, prompting protests. On 21 October, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution establishing a sanctions regime to target individuals and entities that target peace and stability. The unanimous resolution was welcomed by the Haitian representative.
September 2022
The situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate sharply following last year’s assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Anti-government protests that broke out last August, demanding the resignation of Haiti’s caretaker prime minister, Ariel Henry, have intensified and turned violent. In response to the government’s decision to end fuel subsidies, which prompted a sharp rise in prices, public anger has increased.
August 2022
Impending political and humanitarian crises loom in Haiti as gang violence and extreme poverty challenge the country. Public anger regarding gang violence and insecurity has escalated since last year’s assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Discontent has also been fuelled by food insecurity stemming from the impact of the violence on supply chains, food prices and soaring inflation. Mass demonstrations broke out in August across the country. Protesters blame Prime Minister Ariel Henry for the high cost of living and widespread gang violence and are calling for his resignation, which has resulted in violent behaviour and deaths.