Haiti’s defense sector is moving forward with a key phase of military institutional modernization, as senior leaders work to finalize updated governing rules for the country’s Armed Forces (FAd’H). On September 9, 2026, Defense Minister Mario Andrésol led a dedicated working session with top FAd’H High Command members during his weekly scheduled meeting, focusing specifically on wrapping up revisions to the force’s draft general regulations.
The updated regulatory document is designed to lay the groundwork for the armed forces’ long-term institutional evolution, establishing clear definitions for the service’s organizational structure, core responsibilities, and standardized operational protocols. During the day’s discussions, High Command officials conducted a full review of the FAd’H’s proposed overall organizational chart and the mandate of each of its individual branches and units. Attendees also contributed targeted observations and actionable proposals aimed at boosting internal structural coherence and streamlining cross-unit coordination across the force.
Addressing the meeting, Minister Andrésol stressed that modernizing Haiti’s armed forces cannot be reduced to upgrading hardware or physical infrastructure alone. True transformation, he argued, requires equally robust efforts to consolidate institutional structures, update outdated operational standards, and codify clear rules that help every rank and department within the force understand its unique role and accountabilities.
Andrésol emphasized that the ongoing regulatory development work must continue to be carried out in a collaborative spirit with the FAd’H High Command, to deliver a final regulatory framework that is sturdy internally consistent, and fully functional for on-the-ground operations.
In addition to finalizing the general regulation draft, Haiti’s Ministry of Defense is also in the late stages of developing an entirely new operational doctrine for the FAd’H. The two overlapping projects are core components of the government’s sustained national effort to modernize and professionalize Haiti’s armed forces, marking a key milestone in the institution’s ongoing restructuring.