A demonstrator holds up a Haitian flag during a protest against acting prime minister Ariel Henry’s government and the country’s growing insecurity in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, on 1 March 2024. (TheNewHumanitarian.com)
During the first week of April, reports showed that violence in Haiti caused several hospitals to shut down. After gaining control of 80% of Haiti’s capital, Port au Prince, armed Haitians have attacked the suburbs forcing thousands of residents to flee. Furthermore, riots have resulted in 4,000 civilian deaths.
Despite causing much civil unrest, Haitians have an underlying message about independence and unity. In order to understand what’s happening in Haiti now, one must understand Haiti’s early history of resilience through colonization and interference.
Haiti’s unique past fuels the mindset of its most powerful gangs. This inner default to rise against oppression originates from the Haitian Revolution of 1804. This revolution made Haiti the world’s first Black republic and the second nation to win independence from a European nation in the western hemisphere.
Led by Toussaint L’Overture, enslaved Haitians fought for their independence during the Haitian Revolution of 1804. This battle resulted in 345,000 deaths of Haitians and 75,000 deaths of Europeans. However, Haitians feel the unjustified consequences of the revolution to this day. From 1825-1947, Haiti was in debt to France for a present-day equivalent of $560 million. After being forced to pay off their debts to France, the nation was left to suffer from poverty and lack of resources.
However their pride remains.
Haitian groups that have been inflicting violence across the island, are emboldened to make political demands as dictators and foreign governments continue to steal from the nation. The current violence possibly stems from former Haitian President Francois Duvalier’s creation of government militant groups.
The root of this turmoil runs deep into the 1950s. The creation of major Haitian militant groups began when President Francois Duvalier ruled as a dictator over Haiti (1957-1971). Haitian people knew him for creating a paramilitary group that tortured and killed anyone who opposed him. Over the years, many gangs branched off from this militant group. The gang population also increased when the United Nations and Former President Bill Clinton imported cheap rice grown in Arkansas, to Haiti. This resulted in young Haitians being forced out of the agriculture sector as well as crippling the country’s ability to feed itself.
While Haitian gangs rise to power, they have been making striking political demands and statements. They insisted that Prime Minister Ariel Henry resign from office, which he did last month. Haitians have reason to believe that countries such as the United States and Canada were supporting or using Henry for other ulterior motives. Wealthy new world nations crave to have a form of access to Haiti because the nation has $20 billion dollars worth of natural resources including gold.
For example, Canadian company Majescor Resources has bought rights to 173 square miles of Haiti strictly for gold. This company now has permits to construct gold mines on this plot in Haiti. However, mines cause displacement of communities, and less land for Haitian farms to prosper.
That’s why gangs refuse to let foreign governments meddle in their own government.
Despite the challenges, Haitians have always fought for their rights and sovereignty. Chief Cherzier, who is the current leader of the major gang called G9, threatened to oppose all international intervention and aid to Haiti. He declared that he wants to lead his own people out of the mayhem.
The earthquake of 2010 completely devastated Haiti, especially the capital, Port au Prince. Haiti’s buildings crumbled very easily due to the significant lack of infrastructure. They had no modern building codes like most new world nations and the concrete they used contained mostly sand, causing buildings to be very weak.
Meanwhile the United States has thousands of building codes per state in the forms of standards and specifications.
Behind the scenes, the United States has always meddled with other countries’ governments for their own economic and political benefits in Latin America, and especially Haiti. In the years 1915-1934 the US once gained control of Haitian finances and had constructed a group of marines to control and induce order to the Haitian people. Additionally, the US forced the election of President Phillipe Sudre Dartinguenave, who was favored by the American government because of his pro-American notions. However, the Good Neighbor Policy, passed by Franklin D. Roosevelt caused the US to withdraw these imperialistic measures in 1934. Nevertheless, the US government continued to intervene with Haiti decades later.
Although the current gang uprisings in Haiti are a disrepute to the nation, it is a way for them to show that they are taking back control by continuing to siege ports and major institutions in the capital.
In the midst of national distress and suffering from manipulation of other countries, Haiti will always remain proud and strong in their historical independence to make a way for their people. Although the violence may appear cruel and horrendous there is always a brighter frame of mind behind it all. As African people, we should all come to realize and uplift the Black resilience that we all have in our blood so that we may never succumb to being stepped on like a doormat.
The Watoto Speak! 