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Haitian crisis (2018–present) facts for kids

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2018–2024 Haitian crisis
2019 Haitian protests tire fire.png
Tires set on fire by protesters in Hinche, February 2019
Date 7 July 2018 (2018-07-07) – present (6 years, 4 months and 2 weeks)
Location
Caused by

2021 phase

  • Authoritarianism, fear of dictatorship, and international support for President Jovenel Moïse
  • Moïse's bid to extend his term and alleged assassination–coup d'état attempt
  • Police brutality, human rights abuses, and violence against protesters

2022–2024 phase

Goals 2018–2021 phase
  • Resignation of Moïse, installation of transitional government, and fresh general elections

2022–2024 phase

  • Resignation of Ariel Henry
  • End of armed gang violence, kidnappings, and killings
  • End to impunity and corruption in Haiti, and better living conditions
  • Release of 33 judges and 23 officers arrested after the alleged 2021 coup d'état attempt
Resulted in
Parties to the civil conflict
Haiti Protesters

Haiti Government of Haiti


Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti

Supported by:
United Nations United Nations Security Council
 United States
 Canada
 France
 Taiwan
Lead figures
Haiti Jean-Charles Moïse
Haiti Schiller Louidor
Haiti Guy Philippe
Haiti Jimmy Chérizier
Jovenel Moïse X
Haiti Fritz William Michel
Haiti Jean-Michel Lapin
Haiti Jean-Henry Céant
Haiti Jack Guy Lafontant
Haiti Ariel Henry
Casualties
5000+ dead, 2000+ injured, 2000+ kidnapped
since 1 January 2023
360,000+ displaced as of 19 March 2024

Protests began in cities throughout Haiti on 7 July 2018 in response to increased fuel prices. Over time, these protests evolved into demands for the resignation of Jovenel Moïse, the then-president of Haiti. Led by opposition politician Jean-Charles Moïse (no relation), protesters stated that their goals were to create a transitional government, provide social programs, and prosecute allegedly corrupt officials. From 2019 to 2021, massive protests called for the Jovenel Moïse government to resign. Moïse had come in first in the 2016 presidential election, for which voter turnout was 21%. The 2015 elections had been annulled due to fraud. On 7 February 2021, supporters of the opposition allegedly attempted a coup d'état, leading to 23 arrests, as well as clashes between protestors and police.

On 7 July 2021, Jovenel Moïse was assassinated, allegedly by a group of 28 foreign mercenaries; three of the suspected assassins were killed and 20 arrested, while a manhunt for the other gunmen, as well as for the masterminds of the attack, remains ongoing as of July 2021. On 20 July 2021, Ariel Henry assumed the office of acting prime minister.

In September 2022, further protests erupted in response to rising energy prices, and a federation of gangs created a blockade around Haiti's largest fuel depot. Combined with an outbreak of cholera and widespread acute hunger, the crisis led the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on Jimmy Chérizier, one of the country's gang leaders. In 2022, Canada issued sanctions against three wealthy businessmen—Gilbert Bigio, Reynold Deeb, and Sherif Abdallah—whom they accused of having "participated in gross and systematic human rights violations in Haiti" as well as numerous politicians including Michel Martelly, Laurent Lamothe, Jean-Henry Céant, Joseph Lambert, and Youri Latortue. A UN report to the Security Council in October 2023 likewise identified Martelly, Deeb, and Latortue as having ties to gangs.

In March 2024, acting prime minister Henry was prevented from returning to Haiti after a trip intended to secure the help of the Kenyan police in curbing gang violence. The power vacuum, along with the chaos in the streets, led to the scheduling of an emergency CARICOM meeting on 11 March. On 11 March, Henry announced his resignation under pressure from protesters, gangs, and the international community, to be effective upon the naming of a new Prime Minister and cabinet by a transitional council.

Multinational intervention

The United States has pledged $200 million to the international police force approved by the UN and an additional $100 million in humanitarian aid. Canada announced $123 million to support Haiti, including $80.5 million for the mission. As of March 2024, the U.N. indicated that $78 million had been formally pledged, of which only $10.8 million was deposited, by Canada and France.

The US military began flying cargo planes into the Port-au-Prince airport on 23 April and by mid-May had transported over 500 tons of material, including equipment for the Haitian National Police, medical equipment, and food. On 27 May, the arrival of the first contingent of Kenyan forces, which had been rescheduled for the end of May, was again delayed.

On 26 June 2024, Kenya's first contingent of 400 elite police officers landed in Port-au-Prince's international airport after months of delay.

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