Haiti: Gangs, Protests, And Political Vacuum | Never-Ending Wars

Haiti라이브 바카라 political instability remains at its worst, with Prime Minister and acting President Ariel Henry resigning in early 2024 amid escalating violence and a complete breakdown of governance. His resignation followed coordinated gang attacks on capital Port-au-Prince and growing discontent among the people. A transitional presidential council has since taken charge, though its role and future steps are yet to be defined.

In November, the Prime Minister appointed by the transitional council was also removed after just six months in office. Prime Minister Garry Conille was dismissed by the council through an executive order signed by eight of its nine members. Businessman and former Senate candidate Alix Didier Fils-Aimé was named as his replacement. 

Haiti's political scene has seen rapid changes after a year of intense violence in 2023. Gangs gained control of over 80 per cent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the violence continued into 2024. According to the UN, more than 4,000 people have been killed this year due to gang violence, with the actual numbers likely higher. Around 700,000 people have also been forced to leave their homes within Haiti.

Haiti is experiencing one of the worst human rights crises in decades. Gangs have been fighting for control of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and in March 2024, they attacked two major prisons and key infrastructure, including the country's only international airport. In response, vigilante groups have formed to fight the gangs. The violence is now spreading to other cities across the country, worst affecting the civilians getting caught up between the two sides.

Haiti, a country plagued by political instability, saw its situation worsen after the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. 

On July 7, 2021, Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, 53, was assassinated in his home in Port-au-Prince. He was shot by armed men 12 times. He was found dead at the scene, while his wife, Martine Moïse, was critically injured but survived. Investigators believe the attack was planned by Rodolphe Jaar, a Haitian-Chilean businessman, along with a group of Colombian mercenaries.

Haiti's worsening crisis has left the country without elected officials, with no elections held in eight years and all key positions, including mayor, parliament, and president, vacant.

Background

Haiti became the first Black-led republic and the first independent state in Latin America and the Caribbean when it gained freedom from French rule in the early 19th century. However, it has faced significant development and political challenges since.

Haiti's history is marked by numerous coups and dictatorial regimes. From 1957 to 1986, the Duvalier dynasty reigned – François Duvalier (Papa Doc) and later his son Jean-Claude Duvalier (Baby Doc) ruled as dictators. 

François Duvalier's rule saw Haiti become more isolated internationally, with tensions rising between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. His regime was marked by corruption, human rights abuses.

As Duvalier's health declined, Haiti's economy worsened. He eased repression before he died in 1971, naming his son Jean-Claude (Baby Doc) as successor. Baby Doc's regime sought respectability, with less repression and some economic improvement, but critics saw little change.

By the mid-1980s, widespread protests erupted over high unemployment, poor living conditions, and limited political freedom. 

Haiti faced two major health crises. First, US authorities ordered the mass killing of pigs due to an outbreak of African swine fever, which caused hardship for rural families who relied on pigs as an investment. At the same time, AIDS became a growing problem. These health issues, combined with political unrest, led to a collapse in tourism.

In February 1986, Duvalier fled to France with US assistance. 

In 1990, Haiti held its first free election, with Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a leftist Catholic priest, winning a landslide victory. However, his reformist policies upset the wealthy elite, and after less than eight months in office, he was overthrown in a military coup.

In 1994, the US restored Aristide to power and helped establish the Haitian National Police. In 2004, the US intervened again, pressuring Aristide to resign amid corruption and uprisings. After his ouster, the UN launched a peacekeeping mission (MINUSTAH) to restore order, build a new police force, and aid reconstruction after the 2010 earthquake. However, the mission faced accusations of sexual abuse and  introducing cholera to the island which killed nearly 10,000 people.

On 16 February 2006, Préval was declared the winner of the presidential election

Préval faced significant challenges leading one of the world라이브 바카라 poorest countries. His focus was on bridging political and class divides, but rising food costs, legislative deadlock, and growing gang violence hindered his efforts. The situation worsened after the 2010 magnitude-7.0 earthquake devastated Port-au-Prince, disrupting rescue efforts.

He was succeeded by Michel Martelly, but his presidency saw major protests from 2012 to 2014. Haitians protested rising living costs and accused Martelly of breaking promises on school tuition and failing to address poverty. The protestors called for his resignation.

Jovenel Moïse, a former banana exporter turned politician, won the 2016 presidential election. However, his rule faced major unrest, with deadly protests erupting in 2021. Protesters set up burning tire barricades, demanding his resignation due to a dispute over his legitimacy. Haiti라이브 바카라 opposition argued that his five-year term should have ended on February 7, 2021, exactly five years after his predecessor Michel Martelly stepped down. Moïse, however, claimed he still had one year left, as he took office in February 2017 after a delay caused by allegations of electoral fraud. In July 2021, he was assassinated.

By 2022, researchers estimated that around 200 gangs operated across Haiti, with half of them based in Port-au-Prince. Experts consider the current crisis the worst they’ve seen. The violence surge comes as a UN-backed security mission, led by 400 Kenyan police, has failed to make inroads. 

In a report published by the Associated Press last month, Haitian politics expert Robert Fatton from the University of Virginia expressed concern, saying, "I’m very bleak about the future... The whole situation is really collapsing."