Intervention in Haiti: Past Failures and Present Fears

The Haitian government and global powers have failed to stabilize Haiti. Between rising gang violence, food insecurity, and Prime Minister and de facto President Ariel Henry's resignation announcement, Haiti is in a state of turmoil. Burnt corpses line the street, and the violence has resulted in much of the Haitian state disintegrating, with over 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, under the control of gangs.

Initially, many of the men and Haitian youth who joined gangs did so as a way to support themselves as the government continued to fail to provide for its citizens. 

But the gang network in Haiti is not new. One of the most prominent forces on the streets of Haiti in the 20th century was the paramilitary force, created by President François Duvalier in 1959 to suppress his opponents and help him and his son retain power. Despite Duvalier’s populist-to-dictator leadership style that included violence against his own people, the US offered him $900 million in support—just one instance of foreign involvement in Haiti that ultimately backfired. 

In fact, foreign involvement in Haiti dates back to 1804, when Haiti gained independence from French colonial rule. Following independence, French slaveholders demanded formerly enslaved Haitians to pay them reparations, which amounted to billions of dollars and placed the country in debt until 1947. This indemnity created a severe economic strain on the country and was compounded by the meddling of the US and other international actors in Haitian political affairs in the 20th century. Understandably, to this day Haitians remain distrustful of foreign intervention. 

Even more recently, the US sent 20,000 troops in 1994 to “restore democracy,” which included returning the elected president Jean-Bertrand Aristide into power following a military coup. Yet Aristide faced protests, forcing him finally to flee in 2004. UN forces, first led by Brazilians and then Nepalese peacekeepers, compounded the problems. A cholera outbreak in the 2010s was traced back to Nepalese peacemakers, with around 10,000 Haitians dying from the disease. The Brazilian-led UN Mission (MINUSTAH) of peacekeepers faced sexual misconduct allegations, further spreading resentment towards foreign involvement. The compounding crises since, including dictatorial leaders and the destruction caused by earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes, have not been peacefully resolved, with the lawlessness and unachievable political order stemming from the economic and political challenges that foreign intervention supports. 

Since the attacks on February 29, 2024,17,000 Haitians have been left homeless, and 33,000 fled Port-au-Prince after the gangs stormed state institutions, pillaged homes, and released over 4000 inmates. As gang violence continues to spread, 4.97 million people face food insecurity, and vigilante groups, in fear and anger, have taken matters into their own hands, killing suspected gang members. G9 and G-Pep are the two main gangs fighting for control in Port-au-Prince, with Prime Minister Henry and his government unable to respond effectively. Most institutions have disintegrated, except the under-equipped, overstretched Haitian National Police force. 

In an appeal for foreign military assistance, Prime Minister Henry visited Kenya to discuss the deployment of a UN-backed multinational security force. Still, he was stranded abroad and fled to Puerto Rico amidst calls for resignation, all while Haiti “fell further into chaos.” The Kenyan-led mission had more significant support than other missions, with many Haitian police officers still retaining doubts about the effectiveness of the international response. 

Henry has promised to resign but must wait for the creation of a transitional council set up by regional leaders. One of the requirements by the transitional council, which has been a product of the US, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Canada, France, Brazil, and Mexico, is for any future Haitian leaders to allow gang-crackdown by international security missions. Calls for Henry’s resignation come from both international pressure and gang leaders, with one of the most notorious gang leaders threatening to start a civil war if Henry didn’t step down. A civil war would devastate the country, giving gangs control of roadways and supply flows and thereby compounding the violence and food insecurity that Haitians already face. 

Beginning in 2022, Henry appealed to the international community for a “specialized armed force” to help grapple with the gang violence. That same year, the executive director of Haiti’s National Human Rights Defense Network, Pierre Esperance, stated that “most Haitians were against an international force.” Still, this opinion is changing as the situation worsens and as Haitians “feel there are no other options.” Despite the call for support, the US and other foreign powers are wary of a new international mission in Haiti and the potentially disastrous consequences of foreign involvement and instead now recognize the necessity of Haitian-led solutions. 

Former US Ambassador to Haiti, James B. Foley, commented on the Haitian response to intervention, stating that “Haitians revile the prospect of yet another foreign occupation following a string of failures by the international community in their country.” Despite this, the UN Security Council has condemned the violence and stressed international humanitarian assistance and support to the police. However, without coordinated action, the lack of leadership may cause Haiti to fall under the complete control of criminal gangs. 

Foreign interference in Haiti, resulting in economic setbacks, government corruption, and continued external involvement in the country, has made Haiti a country wherein a weak government is unable to prevent gangs from gaining power. Haitians are simultaneously requesting and distrusting international involvement to help resolve these issues. 

The situation in Haiti remains ongoing, with the future of Haiti full of strife and uncertainty and many Haitians living in fear for themselves and their families.