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SINKING DEEPER INTO THE MORASS

October 15, 2022 | Expert Insights

Once the wealthiest French colony in the Americas, Haiti today is a scarred shadow of its prosperous past. It is marred by political instability, repeated disasters and constant foreign meddling that keeps progress a distant dream. Violence and protests that have recently erupted across the nation have predicted the demise of the entire system. The gangs in Haiti have taken over significant resources and severely hampered public life. The government, tasked with providing security and public services to its people, has failed to fulfil both obligations.

Fearing that the gangs may seize control of the nation's capital Port-au-Prince, Prime Minister Ariel has requested the international community for armed assistance. Sadly, despite agreeing to help the Haitian government, the U.S. has a history of backing rubber stamp administrations in its neighbourhood. As a result, Haitian demonstrators protested in Washington and demanded that the U.S. stop supporting PM Ariel. Although this may be the worst time to do so, Ariel has decided to hold presidential elections to calm protesters.

Background

The ongoing socio-politico-economic crisis plaguing Haiti started with a series of events last year. First, unrest and chaos began after a group of Colombian mercenaries assassinated President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. Then, a massive earthquake hit the country, killing more than 2,200 people. Following the assassination, PM Ariel decided to run the government without a President and cancelled all fuel subsidies two months later. 

The cancellation of subsidies encouraged massive protests, looting, and vandalism nationwide. People targeted food aid warehouses stealing an estimated USD 5 million worth of supplies. Despite the backlash, PM Ariel decided to stay in power and did not agree to conduct Presidential elections. With fuel prices soaring, a few gangs entered a coalition and took control of the country’s main oil terminal in September.

After gangs pulled off the fuel supply, vital infrastructures like hospitals and water delivery systems were forced to close or run at a reduced capacity. To make matters worse, the gangs started preventing water trucks from supplying the general public with water. Anti-government demonstrations swept the nation like wildfire without adequate food, water, and fuel.

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Analysis

Haiti is one of the few Latin American nations that fit the criteria of a failed state. The involvement of outside parties in the nation's government is a significant aspect of this grim reality. For many years, the U.S. has supported fictitious governments to further its own national objectives. However, these fictitious administrations have typically been helpless and unprepared to deal with the wide range of issues the populace faces. The administration was also sluggish due to its reliance on aid from the U.S. and other nations, which prevented it from taking any steps toward economic independence.

The gangs in Haiti are better equipped and more potent than the understaffed law enforcement agencies due to the unrestricted flow of illegal arms. The recent cooperation between the various gangs signifies unity among them. The gangs have realised they could benefit from working together rather than fighting each other. 

Haiti is one of the world's most notorious drug smuggling transit points. Along with the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic, Haiti is a key transit area for Colombian and Puerto Rican drug mules. The drug trade has an unmistakable influence on Haitian politics. Former President Jean Bertrand-Aristide, for example, was accused of taking bribes from smugglers to use the country as a transit point for their operations. The ongoing instability in the country would invariably lead to more drug smuggling activities. The U.S., not wanting illegal substances and weapons entering its borders, will pump in resources to keep the gangs in check under a pliable administration.

Usually, struggling nations turn to international organisations like the UN for assistance. Unfortunately, the UN has a bad reputation among Haitians because of its unpopular stability mission from 2004 to 2017. Despite persistent efforts to improve the situation, little changed for the better under the UN. In reality, the locals held the UN accountable for a deadly cholera outbreak that claimed nearly 10,000 lives in 2010.

In response to PM Ariel's most recent appeal for assistance, UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres has encouraged the Security Council to approve increased security assistance for Haiti. However, given the UN's standing in the nation, its presence might worsen the current crisis.

Assessment

  • The President's assassination catalysed gang violence, spiralling out of control and impacting the nation's economy, food security, oil supply, and transport routes.
  • With the crisis in Ukraine driving up fuel prices in the current international setting, Haiti's economic situation has worsened. Fuel expenditures in the nation are now unaffordable due to price increases and government fuel subsidies.
  • International assistance is urgently needed for Haiti to prevent the already crisis-stricken country from total collapse.