Samuel Thiessen
Published 6 March 2023
On 7 July 2021, Haiti’s former President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in his private residence. Within two weeks, Ariel Henry was sworn in as Haiti’s new prime minister, with a commitment to work towards order and security in the nation, and supposedly pave the way for free and fair elections. Unfortunately, elections have not taken place since, and the assassination of the president was only a sign of further collapse into chaos in the island nation. Violent gangs have now seized much of the country, with a particular focus on crucial areas like ports, main roads, and anywhere else to stem the normal flow of goods.
This has led to a major humanitarian crisis. Food and fuel shortages are real concerns for Haitians. Adding to the problem, limited access to clean drinking water and difficulties faced by health clinics and humanitarian aid recently opened the door for a re-emergence of cholera in all of Haiti’s ten departments, causing nearly 300 deaths by December. As evidence of this humanitarian crisis, the number of Haitians fleeing their country is increasing rapidly, many in over-crowded and easily capsized boats.
Unable to regain control of the country itself, Haiti’s government has requested international military assistance. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres joined its call for an armed international force in light of the “absolutely nightmarish situation for the population of Haiti.” Nonetheless, these calls in early October sparked resistance and controversy within the international political community. The recent memory of a cholera outbreak caused by the 2010 UN peacekeeping force, as well as a history of failed interventions in Haiti, has led to hesitation on the part of any nation considering leading the proposed military force. As Prime Minister Henry has still not facilitated elections, there are also fears that intervention might prop up an already corrupt government.
While international intervention is sorely needed in Haiti, the concerns of skeptics should still be considered in determining the goals of such action. The Haitian people themselves must be the driving force for change in their country; otherwise, the past failed interventions will repeat themselves. It is crucial that any military aid serves simply to support the Haitian police force. Rather than propping up an occupying force and thus legitimizing a current government that has yet to be democratically elected, this support should centre around providing the miniscule Haitian National Police (HNP) with the equipment, intelligence, advice, and firepower necessary to regain control. There should also be an effort to implement a process of rooting out corrupt cops who only add to the problem. Eventually, the HNP must also be expanded to have any chance of maintaining public order.
Once these actors have re-established some sense of order, proper democratic institutions must be built for lasting systemic change in the nation. In what is hopefully a sign of a genuine desire for democracy, Prime Minister Ariel Henry installed a transition council on February 6 to begin preparations for elections. This High Transition Council has unanimously backed Henry’s request to bring in an international force to help the police restore order. An international force must commit to aiding Haiti’s police force only if Henry continues to reveal an authentic desire to guide the country back to functioning democracy – if not, upheaval will continue, and order will not last. Past international interventions utterly failed in this area. Haiti’s consistently failing governance has only been exacerbated by outside forces picking sides, supporting governments without political legitimacy. Intervention must seek to support the population of Haiti through the police force and democratic institutions, rather than simply backing up Henry. The people themselves must drive real progress in their nation.
The Haitian people continue to wait for the international community to come together in support. Nations like Jamaica and El Salvador have stated that they would aid in an international intervention, but the UN has stepped back to allow bilateral agreements to facilitate their recommendations. For now, Haiti will continue to slide into anarchy until major international players are willing to turn their gaze towards the island country and take the plight of the Haitian people seriously.
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