An Overview of the Situation in Haiti: The Renewal of a Cyclical Crisis

This article was produced in collaboration with our colleagues in Haiti, Marie-Marguerite Clérié and Roseline Benjamin, both members of the IDEO Foundation (Institute for Organisational and Personal Development). Founded in 1992, this organisation’s mission is to foster a change in mindset and promote a climate of peace in Haiti by supporting the population in the field of mental health.

Haiti is currently going through an extremely dangerous and difficult period, marked by a climate of widespread chaos and anarchy. For several years, the country has been mired in a deep crisis, reflecting persistent political, economic, and social instability. The near-total collapse of state institutions is disrupting the daily lives of citizens, especially in the capital, Port-au-Prince and surrounding area, plunging the entire nation into anxiety-inducing uncertainty.

During a recent phone call with our members on the ground in Haiti, we were able to put together a retrospective of the dramatic situation the country is facing. Through their testimonies, we discussed the many challenges facing the population, while also trying to understand the roots of this multidimensional crisis and explore possible solutions. This article aims to bring visibility to the Haitian crisis and alert the international community to the urgent need for action. It is imperative that concrete actions be taken to help the country face the many threats looming over its future.

Haiti’s Beginnings

Once nicknamed “the pearl of the Antilles,” Haiti used to be a haven of peace for those fleeing unrest in their countries of origin, seeking stability and serenity under a tropical climate. As the first independent Black republic, Haiti made a historic mark on the world. Despite political upheavals and episodes of dictatorship, the country experienced periods of calm, particularly between the end of the U.S. occupation in 1934 and the rise of the Duvalier family to power in 1971.
 During that time, Marie-Marguerite’s mother remembered a country she described as a true paradise.

The Beginning of Haiti’s Dark Years

With the rise of François Duvalier to power, Haiti entered an era marked by fear and instability. His authoritarian regime implemented a brutal policy of repression. As Marie-Marguerite points out, Duvalier’s death did not signal a political break, unlike what happened in other countries in the region at the time, such as Chile or Brazil. In fact, Duvalier died after ensuring he had named his successor, thereby consolidating the continuation of a dictatorial regime.

This period was deeply marked by terror, notably with public executions intended to deter any form of opposition.

The Rise and Expansion of Gangs

Another major factor destabilising Haiti is the increasing grip of gangs. Their origin dates back to the presidency of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Haiti’s first democratically elected president. In an effort to consolidate power and prevent a potential coup, Aristide dismantled the army and created a parallel militia composed of “chimères”, armed groups tasked with intimidating and even terrorising the population.

This power-through-fear system took root. Over time, gangs took control of the informal economy. To run a business, entrepreneurs had to pay a “ransom” to these armed groups or risk having their operations destroyed. The economic success of this model helped strengthen their power. Today, these gangs operate independently, earning revenue from ransom, kidnappings, and living in extravagant luxury.

They now control nearly 90% of the capital's territory. Even historians agree that the current situation is unprecedented in the country’s history.

The Political Crisis Since 2018

Roseline, when asked about the current situation, states that the real escalation of the political and social crisis began in 2018. That year marked a turning point with the emergence of major protest movements, known as “peyi lòk” (locked country). Behind these mobilisations was a political manipulation: some politicians fueled popular anger not to improve the country’s situation but to weaken President Jovenel Moïse.

This tense climate pushed the population into a state of terror and caused a massive exodus. Unable to overthrow the president through institutional means, some groups resorted to a radical solution: the assassination of Jovenel Moïse, carried out on July 7, 2021.

An Assassination Resembling a State Scandal

This assassination now resembles a true state scandal. One of the main suspects remains at large, and no justice has been served. Worse still, evidence suggests direct involvement of government members in the plot. The current authorities bear responsibility, especially since the international community, according to some, turned a blind eye, adopting a posture of passive complicity or willful neglect. This inaction allowed the crisis to worsen.

A Reform Effort Brutally Interrupted

The 2018 crisis also highlighted the challenge to the privileges of the Haitian oligarchy. Jovenel Moïse had launched ambitious reforms aimed at fighting corruption and limiting the undue advantages of certain economic elites. These measures triggered strong opposition from the groups benefitting from the status quo. His modernisation projects and attempts to improve living conditions were brutally interrupted by his death.

Total Paralysis of Institutions

The three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) are now devoid of any capacity for action, and some are outright nonexistent. The state apparatus is in disintegration and can no longer fulfill even its basic functions. This generalised dysfunction intensifies fear and confusion among the population, who feel abandoned by leaders showing neither the will nor the capacity to resolve the turmoil.

The rule of law is crumbling under the weight of escalating insecurity and a political crisis with no immediate solution in sight.

A Crisis With Multiple Dimensions

This crisis, which is not only political, also has serious consequences on economic and social life. All sectors are affected. The economy is paralysed by insecurity, investment is drying up, and commerce is collapsing. The social consequences are obvious: education is disrupted, healthcare is becoming inaccessible for a large portion of the population, and most hospitals remain non-operational. Inequalities are growing by the day. This situation endangers social cohesion and jeopardises the very future of the nation.

To hope for recovery, deep and fair institutional reforms are essential. Security must be restored, citizens’ fundamental rights must be guaranteed, and civil peace must be reestablished. Without these changes, Haiti risks sinking further into chaos.

Furthermore, fear is taking hold and dominating the daily lives of Haitians. This chronic insecurity is having a severe impact on the physical and mental health of the population. Cases of depression with suicidal risk, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress are becoming widespread across all layers of society.

Families, powerless in the face of the situation, often accept the painful sacrifice of leaving their country, and even separating from their children to offer them a better life. We are witnessing a true exodus, a brain drain, and a serious breakdown of the family unit. The countries hosting the displaced have become the new hope for an entire generation of Haitians.

The recent return of Donald Trump to power, along with his announced immigration policies, is currently causing panic in certain Haitian diaspora communities. The Haitian people are being hunted from all sides.

What Solutions for Haiti? And What Role for the International Community?

So far, the international community has shown itself largely powerless in the face of the worsening situation. If the goal is to organise free and democratic elections, a fundamental question arises: how can elections be held in a country plagued by widespread violence?

Most of the population is now taking refuge in so-called “free zones,” but even voting, campaigning, or moving around is nearly impossible there. The most populated areas are also the most dangerous. Under such conditions, elections meant to represent the Haitian people risk lacking legitimacy.

Faced with this impasse, Marie-Marguerite and Roseline suggest several concrete solutions:

1. Re-arm the Haitian police, which is currently severely under-equipped due to the U.S.-imposed arms embargo. Meanwhile, armed groups receive illegal weapons via the Dominican Republic and possess far superior arsenals.

2. Reopen the borders with the Dominican Republic, to restart economic exchanges, allow access to healthcare for sick Haitians, and revitalize trade routes.

3. Make security the absolute priority. Currently, 67% of international aid is humanitarian, while only 7% is allocated to security, even though insecurity is the main obstacle to the country’s recovery.

4. Promote Haitian-led solutions, by empowering the Haitian people to rebuild their country based on their own priorities, needs, and vision.

A Message of Hope

Despite the immense challenges, Marie-Marguerite and Roseline remain hopeful. They reaffirm their strong determination to revive “the Haitian soul,” convinced that, through hard work, solidarity, and a genuine understanding of the country’s realities, Haiti can rise again.

When asked how a new wave of international aid could succeed where previous ones failed, their answer is clear: