By DaQuan Lawrence
AFRO international Writer
DLawrence@afro.com
Haiti is in turmoil once again as authorities and local gangs engage in a deadly power struggle for control over the country. The conflict began to intensify in late February, and on March 11, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has agreed to resign once a plan for leadership is put into place. As the killings continue, residents are caught in the middle with nowhere to go as surrounding countries have closed off their borders. The main seaport in the nation’s capital of Port-au-Prince has also closed, blocking food and other aid to millions of Haitian citizens. Black allies from around the globe are now seeking to support the country, while calling for a Haitian solution to the challenges facing the country. Collage photos: AP Photos/Odelyn Joseph
The death toll continues to climb in Haiti as gangs and Haitian authorities clash in attempts to take control of the country. Around the world supporters and political figures are calling for the violence to cease, as solutions to the many problems facing the country are discussed and agreed upon.
In the United States Black advocates are calling for an answer created for the Haitian people, by the Haitian people.
To further discuss proposed plans for peace and how Black people around the world can help, the Institute of the Black World: 21st Century convened at the historical AME Metropolitan Church in Washington, D.C. to galvanize U.S. citizens and members of the international community in support of Haiti.
Led by Dr. Ron Daniels, the Haiti Support Project has been active over the previous three decades and working to build a constituency that can work collaboratively with members of the Haitian population.
“We are the premier African-American organization that has worked to address issues in Haiti. Our rally at the historic AME Metropolitan Church is against the backdrop of one of the worst crises in Haiti I have observed in the 29 years that we’ve been doing work in Haiti,” Daniels said.
Daniels is a major supporter of a plan for Haiti called “The Montana Accord,” which was first proposed in August of 2021. The Montana Accord is a plan created by the Commission for a Search to a Haitian Solution to the Crisis. The commission is a collection of Haitian advocates from all walks of life– including clergy, politicians and a wide variety of community leaders. The group came together in the aftermath of Moïse’s assassination, which left Haiti without a national leader.
The Montana Accord calls for the country to hold elections while a temporary government is in place. According to the Congressional Research Service, the document lays out a plan for Haitian authorities “restore order, administer elections and create a truth and justice commission to address past human rights violations.”
Internationally known as the first Black free republic in the world, which was once the richest colony and nation in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti is now known as the poorest nation in the hemisphere.
While many people are familiar with the earthquakes that impacted the nation in 2010 and 2018, and more recently, the political instability that has struck the nation since the assassination of Jovenel Moïse, the 43rd president, on July, 7 2021.
Since Moïse’s death, Ariel Henry has served as acting prime minister and acting president of the nation, however Daniels mentioned that Henry was initially expected to serve for a short period of time.
“Henry really was only to stay in position for about three months. That ended up being
extending into almost two years, against the backdrop of people demanding change,” Daniels said.
Under tremendous pressure to resolve the nation’s problems, Henry recently announced his resignation on March 11, 2024.
The U.S. Department of State has issued a level 4 travel advisory for Haiti, and is advising U.S. citizens not to travel to the nation due to high levels of political instability and gang violence.
“Kidnapping is widespread, and victims regularly include U.S. citizens. Kidnappers may use sophisticated planning or take advantage of unplanned opportunities, and even convoys have been attacked,” said the U.S. Department of State, in an alert posted to their official government website. “Kidnapping cases often involve ransom negotiations and U.S. citizen victims have been physically harmed during kidnappings. Victim’s families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members.”
The state department warned that “Violent crime, often involving the use of firearms, such as armed robbery, carjackings and kidnappings for ransom that include U.S. citizens are common” in the area.
In the past several months, residents have tried to flee the area as the chaos intensified. However, they have met resistance as bordering countries have closed their borders to flights to and from Haiti. Some of those forced to stay have resorted to fighting back against the gangs that are killing without consequence and pillaging communities.
“Mob killings against presumed criminals have been on the rise since late April [2023],” reported U.S. officials in the travel advisory. “Protests, demonstrations, tire burning, and roadblocks are frequent, unpredictable, and can turn violent. The U.S. government is extremely limited in its ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Haiti – assistance on site is available only from local authorities–Haitian National Police and ambulance services. Local police generally lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.”
Since the violence began, U.S. officials report “shortages of gasoline, electricity, medicine and medical supplies continue throughout much of Haiti. Public and private medical clinics and hospitals often lack qualified medical staff and even basic medical equipment and resources.”