On Haiti
What's happening in Haiti? And what can be done?
Happy birthday dear Catherine! Catherine has been working with me on the newsletter since 2019. I couldn’t do it without her. ✨
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀
Before I dive into Haiti, I had originally planned to write about Putin and Russia. Specifically, this weekend marks the 10th anniversary of the illegal annexation of Crimea. Russians go to the polls to anoint (let’s be real here) Putin and his corrupt regime. I’ll revert back to Crimea in a few weeks. I do want to say: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine did not start two years ago, but ten. Slava Ukraini. 🇺🇦
This week, the situation in Haiti reached a new low. The country, already Latin America’s poorest, has for the past three years been politically paralyzed. Currently 4.7 million people face acute hunger. In July 2021, the country’s president, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated. It is still unclear who was behind it. Ariel Henry, a doctor turned politician that Moïse had tapped to succeed him, stepped in to replace Moïse and has been in power since. That is one part of the problem.
Problem Two: Gangs
Ellen Ioanes notes,
Rather than working with various Haitian-led civil society groups that came together to offer durable solutions toward democratic consolidation, the US, France, Canada, and other international actors treated Henry as the legitimate interlocutor for the Haitian people despite his extreme unpopularity and the fact that he was never sworn into his position.
As we noted last week, Henry announced last month that already delayed elections would be further pushed back to August 2025. That prompted the violence we’ve seen for the past two weeks. Armed groups who were once at odds have united, as the NYT reports, to overtake Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. These groups, Ioanes points out, are not “exclusively criminal business enterprises” a la Mexican drug cartels.
…various leaders in Haiti have relied upon gangs to assert their political will. In other words, Haitian gangs are best understood as armed political actors.
This dates back to the late 1950s when François Duvalier, aka Papa Doc, came to power and set up his own mercenary force, Tonton Macoutes, to “terrorize perceived enemies of his regime.” Other Haitian leaders, including his son “Baby Doc,” have followed that example.
Problem Three: Foreign interference
Foreign intervention plays another part in Haiti’s current crisis. Cribbing from many…. Haiti was “once Saint-Domingue, the ‘Pearl of the Antilles’ under French rule.” In 1915, the US invaded and occupied the country until 1934. Fast forward to 1994, the US deployed troops to remove the military government and restore Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power1. Yes, Aristide was pro-US. Aristide stayed in power, along with the presence of a UN peacekeeping force, until 2000. Four years later Aristide was ousted. The UN deployed another peacekeeping mission, MINUSTAH, which brought cholera and sexual abuse accusations. The earthquake in 2010, which killed 300,000 people only made the situation worse.
Way forward
The solution to Haiti’s current crisis may be to bring in foreign forces. It was what Ariel Henry was trying to do in Kenya a few weeks ago. This follows on the October UN Security Council approval of a Kenyan-led international force for Haiti. Kenya has since paused that pledge. The longer-term solution to Haiti isn’t more militarization, however. (Kathy Hochul, take note.) It involves holding Haiti’s elites to account, getting guns off the street, stopping Washington from propping up leaders friendly to it, and, ultimately, supporting a Haitian-led resolution.
Lydia Polgreen notes that “foreign powers, especially the United States, have meddled in Haiti’s affairs, undermined its leaders and scuppered its democracy… But Haiti’s political and economic elites have consistently failed the people of Haiti, too.” It is time to hold these elites to account.
That is what Florida Representative Sheila Cerfilus-McCormick, the only Haitian-American in Congress, is trying to do. She has sponsored the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act which would require the State Department to report ties between gangs and elites in Haiti. This includes moving guns between the US and Haiti, as Marcia Biggs reports.
Washington needs to realize that Haiti is not a US protectorate and stop propping up leaders that are friendly to it, whether in Haiti or elsewhere2. Duvalier, Aristide, and Henry may have provided the White House comfort, but Haitians need leaders who will strengthen governance. That may require making tough decisions that go against Washington’s interests.
Finally, the US and Caricom (grouping of Caribbean nations) should consider supporting the Montana Accord, or at least support the group of business and civil society representatives that came together to craft it. The Montana Accord paves the way for a transitional government, calling for the creation of a seven-member transitional council from different sectors and an independent body to hold elections, which have not been held since 2016.
In the late 18th century, Haiti, known as Saint-Domingue, was a French colony, producing sugar, coffee, cotton, and other crops, at the hands of slaves, and generating tremendous wealth for the French king. In 1791, those slaves rebelled, leading a revolt. They won. As NPR notes, “former slaves sent slaveholders scurrying to France and America — and Haitians successfully fought back subsequent efforts to re-enslave them.” Haiti then became the first nation to permanently ban slavery. Amazing.
Haiti is on the verge of collapse. It will take a lot of effort, dedication, and persistence to get it back on track. But it would be a mistake to count the Haitians out — and a bigger one to deprive them of the chance. — Elmira
I’m opening up my column to others. Please pitch me your op-ed idea/perspective. Let’s get more female perspectives. Email me on endeavoringe@gmail.com or respond to this post.
Elsewhere in the World.....
On our radar...
The 68th Commission on the Status of Women convened this week at the UN. If you need any more proof that the status of women is not good, look no further. At the UN General Assembly this week, the first five speakers opening up CSW were men.
Haiti
Haiti is on the brink of collapse. As the US and Caricom countries scramble to find a solution, Beatrice Lindstrom argues that the foreign interference that played a role in creating this situation needs to give way to a civil society-led and consensus-based solution by Haitians. (Just Security)
As Elmira notes above, Ellen Ioanes outlines how the situation in Haiti got so bad. It all comes down to the gangs and the role they’ve played in politics. (Vox)
Interruptrr gal pal Marcia Biggs went to the port of Miami to look at possible gun smuggling into Haiti and talked to the only Haitian American congressperson about addressing the current crisis in Haiti. (PBS News Hour)
US
US Congressional representatives on both sides of the aisle voted in favor of a bill that would force TikTok’s owner to sell it to an American company or face a ban in the US. With 180 million Americans on TikTok, many are worried about the potential freedom of speech violations the bill introduces, but many also worry about the potential for Chinese government surveillance to access their information, explain Riley Beggin and Ken Tran. (USA Today)
The US House of Representatives passed a bill banning TikTok. What does this mean for the future of the app? Erin Hale breaks it all down for us. (Al Jazeera)
Africa
Hundreds of school children and displaced persons were kidnapped in Nigeria recently. You’ll recall in 2014, Boko Haram took hundreds of Chibok school girls, many of whom are still missing. Why are these abductions back on the rise? Julia O’Driscoll discusses. (The Week)
Many people are calling for Ghana’s President Nana Akufo Addo to veto the harsh anti-LGBTQ bill that was passed by Parliament at the end of February. Carine Kaneza Nantulya says the president claims he won’t let the country backslide on human rights…so let’s see that veto Mr. President! (HRW)
Anti-blackness has been a main factor in the world’s ignorance of the severe humanitarian and displacement crisis taking over Sudan, say Omnia Mustafa and Ghaida Hamdun. They call on us to listen to Sudanese voices and to condemn Arab supremacy and the normalization of anti-black racism. (Africa is a Country)
Asia
China’s foreign policy has largely been conducted through an economic lens. But as the country’s might increases and the US finds itself struggling with a number of global crises, can Beijing continue its pragmatic diplomatic approach? Mallie Prytherch and Li Cheng on China’s evolving foreign policy and its ability to match the US. (South China Morning Post)
Indonesia’s next president is a former general and defense minister. Many wonder whether that will mean the military has greater influence on the country’s politics. Nia Deliana and Moch Faisal Karim discuss. (The Diplomat)
Meanwhile, Sharyn Davies wonders where Indonesia’s female candidates are. 🤔 (The Diplomat)
The Americas
Russia is deploying disinformation campaigns in Latin America on Ukraine. Latin America has largely stood on the sidelines of the war. But as Moscow goes into its third year of fighting, it wants to increase skepticism of the US, write Rubi Bledsoe and Ryan Berg. (Americas Quarterly)
Europe
Sorry, we don’t have anything on Kate, though we are intrigued…. 👀
Et tu Portugal? In elections in the southern European country (which is super lovely, by the way…) last Sunday, both the ruling left and the center right parties failed to win a majority, giving rise to a third right-wing party, Chega, which ironically means enough. Joana Ramiro sounds the alarm for Brussels to take heed and realize that people are not happy. (The Guardian)
Sweden joined NATO at the end of last week, becoming the North Atlantic alliance’s 32nd member. Carla Norrlöf tells us that its accession represents a fundamental shift in the region’s balance of power. (Project Syndicate)
Of note: Boot up ladies of Denmark. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced that the military draft would be expanded to include women.
On Friday, Irish voters rejected a proposed amendment to its 1937 constitution to change the definition of family and to remove language about a woman’s role at home. Karla Adam dives into why voters rejected the changes — and not all of it has to do with sexism. (Washington Post)
France and Germany are not happy with one another. Molly O’Neil explains that the recent friction comes from Berlin’s refusal to provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles and its rejection of French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments that in addition to arms, Europe would deploy troops. Alors. (Responsible Statecraft)
If you think Alexandar Lukashenko was done dismantling Belarus’s democracy…. Amanda Coakley on how the Belarussian leader has quashed any vestiges of the opposition. (WPR)
What contributions, if any, should Switzerland make to EU security? Constanze Stelzenmüller weighs in. (Brookings)
Middle East
At the State of the Union last week, US President Biden announced the deployment of an aid barge on the Gazan coast. Jane Arraf on the ship moving aid and food from Cyprus, including supplies from World Central Kitchen. José Andrés and the Spanish NGO Open Arms for the win. (NPR)
Just a few days before the start of Ramadan, Israel dropped pamphlets on the besieged Gaza Strip, calling on citizens to “feed the needy and speak kindly.” As a part of a long series of pamphlets the State has dropped on Gazan civilians, the pamphlets are an important element in Israel’s “psychological torture” of Palestinians, explains Raneem Abdu. (Middle East Eye)
It’s been a year since China helped to broker a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran. How is it holding up? Well, putting into question the US’s role in the Middle East, write Katia Houghton and Benjamin Houghton. (Al-Monitor)
Also this week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan caused many to gasp when he remarked that “under the law” this coming March 31 municipal election would be his last. Elmira wants you to know that it’s highly unlikely that Erdoğan will leave the political stage. He’s probably setting Turkey up for an amendment that allows him to run again. Watch this space.
Science & Climate Change
Climate change affects women more than men. Climate lawsuits could offer a new way for women to get justice. Pedi Obani outlines a few interventions that will be key to getting women access to litigation. (African Arguments)
Technology
Last month, the EU Parliament’s defense and security committees were hacked. What has the EU done? Twiddle its thumbs, write Chloé Berthélémy and Shubham Kaushik, and encourage the EU to add spyware regulations to its agenda. (Euronews)
Under the Radar
Killers of the Flower Moon, the Oscar-nominated film, tells the story of white settlers marrying and then murdering Indigenous women. It’s based on a true story, which unfortunately still continues. Murder is the third leading cause of death among Indigenous women. And many of those murders go unsolved, largely due to incomplete data, write Chelsea Hicks and Valeria Bauman. (Newsweek)
Also, Lily — you were robbed.
READ THIS: Black women continue to be overlooked in academic workplaces, despite the larger numbers entering the workforce. Nicola Rollock homes in on the ways that everyone could be more supportive of and equitable towards their Black female colleagues, and reminds us there’s still room for positive societal change. (Nature)
Opportunities
Semafor is hiring for an entry level Newsroom Fellow - you can be remote but must be able to work UK hours.
Editorial Team
Elmira Bayrasli - Editor-in-Chief
Editors:
Pin-Shan Lai
Catherine Lovizio
Emily Smith
Ann Crawford-Roberts has an excellent explainer on US policy towards and engagement in Haiti.
And historically, Afghanistan (Hamid Karzai), Philippines (Ferdinand Marcos), Chile (Augusto Pinochet), Iran (Shah Reza Pahlavi), Congo (Mobutu Sese Seko) are a few that come to mind.