Haiti
Haiti performs in the low range across all categories of the Global State of Democracy framework and is among the bottom 25 per cent of countries regarding most factors. Haiti has experienced serious declines and a performance score of zero in almost all measures of Representation, given that the legislature has ceased to exist, as well as significant declines in Judicial Independence, Predictable Enforcement, Civil Liberties and its associated sub-factors, and Access to Justice. The poorest country in the Americas and among the poorest in the world, Haiti’s poverty rate is estimated at nearly 60 per cent. Remittances, trade, and tourism are among the largest contributors to its GDP; the current crisis has brought its public debt to 30 per cent of the GDP.
Haiti, the world’s first independent Black republic and the first to be formed through a slave revolt, 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. The 150-million-franc indemnity imposed by France to recognize Haiti’s independence impeded Haiti’s development, disrupted state-building and pushed the country into debt. American occupation (1915-1934) and support for the Duvalier dictatorship (1957-1986) further stifled development. The dictatorship also ingrained a political culture of populism and gangs, overwhelming efforts for democratic governance. Haiti has a complicated history with international intervention, with previous UN peacekeeping missions having been marred by accusations of sexual abuse and the introduction of cholera to the island.
The 1987 Constitution symbolized Haitian’s rejection of the Duvalier dictatorship, and promoted democratic values. 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 country achieved some stability between 2006 and 2016, and despite the devastating 2010 earthquake, made humanitarian recovery and progress towards democracy by completing a long postponed electoral cycle in 2017. However, despite efforts to address governance challenges through a constitutional reform process initiated in 2021, President Jovenel Moise’s assassination and another severe earthquake created a power vacuum.
Haiti currently has no democratically elected government. The past years have been defined by the indefinite postponement of general elections and growing political instability. The pressures exerted by a coalition of gangs that intensified their actions in 2024, and took control of large parts of the country, forced interim Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign, and kept the population under siege for months. Haiti further faces a severe humanitarian crisis with millions suffering acute hunger and hundreds of thousands displaced. Kidnapping and sexual violence remain widespread, severely impacting women. A transitional council established with the mandate to restore public order and security has named a new Prime Minister, who faces significant challenges, including regaining control of the capital from criminal gangs demanding immunity and inclusion in the government.
Looking ahead, the restoration of the Rule of Law with international support is urgent. It will be important to watch the impact of the newly arrived Kenyan-led forces on peace and stability in the country. Equally pressing is the establishment of state bodies as per the mandate of the Transitional Council to enable a return to constitutional order and the holding of elections.
Last Updated: September 2024
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
September 2024
New Provisional Electoral Council is established
On 18 September, Haiti's government announced the creation of a Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) to oversee the country's next elections, planned for 2026. Haiti last held elections in 2016. A previous CEP, formed in 2021, was dissolved by then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who accused it of partisanship and decided to delay the elections prompting wide social criticism. The new CEP appointment has been presented by the transitional government as a key step toward securing free and fair elections and restoring democratic stability. According to the Decree appointing the members of the CEP and setting their mandate, the CEP should consist of nine members representing various sectors. However, the government has so far appointed only seven members, drawn from groups representing journalists, farmers, universities, religious organizations, and unions. The two remaining seats, intended for representatives of the human rights and women’s rights sectors, remain vacant, as these groups have not yet appointed their representatives. They are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Sources: Haitian Times, Aljazeera, BBC, Haiti Libre, Le Quotidien 509
June 2024
First contingent of UN-backed Kenyan police force arrives
The first UN-backed contingent of police from Kenya, has arrived in Haiti to address a surge in gang violence that led to a severe humanitarian crisis in the country. The mission is the result of UN Security Council Resolution 2699, approved in 2023, with the mandate of providing “operational support” to the Haitian National Police to regain control of the country. Additional forces from the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Jamaica are expected to join the contingent as well. Their mission is to stabilize Haiti's security crisis, including gangs’ control of 80 per cent of the capital, and to regain control of key infrastructure such as airports, ports and hospitals and highways. After months of anticipation, there is caution due to past failures of foreign interventions in Haiti to secure lasting peace, as well as scandals that have emerged around them. These include the UN’s previous mission, which ended in 2017 and faced criticism for sexual abuse and cholera outbreaks. The Kenyan police will support but not replace the Haitian National Police, aiming to restore order while avoiding a security vacuum post-mission.
Sources: Haitian Times, New York Times, AP News, El Pais, UN Security Council
May 2024
Garry Conille appointed as Haiti´s new Prime Minister
The Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) of Haiti has appointed Garry Conille as the new Prime Minister, following the selection of Fritz Belizaire in late April. That process was tainted by allegations of procedural irregularities. The decision regarding Conille comes amid escalating gang violence in Port-au-Prince. Conille, a UN development specialist, had been UNICEF's regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean since January 2023 and had served as Haiti's prime minister from 2011 to 2012. The date for the installation of Conille's government is yet to be announced, with Boisvert managing affairs in the meantime. Conille was selected from a pool of over 200 applicants, and his appointment has received international support, including from the OAS and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Conille faces great challenges amidst the severe humanitarian crises that the country is undergoing. He has pledged to restore security, drive economic recovery, and organize elections in 2025.
Sources: Africa News, Haitian Times (1), Haitian Times (2), CBS News
April 2024
Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns as the Transitional Presidential Council is formed
On 12 April, the formation of the Transitional Presidential Council, in charge of assigning a new Haitian government, was finalized. The Council, whose mandate runs out in February 2026, will seek to bring stability to the nation and reform justice through the establishment of autonomous state bodies, such as a Provisional Electoral Council. This prompted Ariel Henry, who has served as Prime Minister since July 2021, to resign on 24 April. On 30 April, the Transitional Council, which consists of nine Haitian politicians and civil society actors', out of which seven have voting rights, announced Fritz Bélizaire as the new Prime Minister. Bélizaire, who served as the Sports Minister in 2006-2011, was chosen by four of the Council members. Council members who oppose Bélizaire have threatened to challenge the decision or resign from the Council. At the same time, Haiti’s powerful gangs have continued to threaten more violence if their demand to have a seat at the negotiation table is not met.
Sources: The British Broadcasting Corporation, Caribbean Life, National Public Radio, Le Nouvelliste
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