On July 17, 2026, Haiti’s Ministry of Defense released a comprehensive public report reviewing the first 100 days in office of newly appointed Defense Minister Mario Andrésol, covering his tenure from March 4 to June 12, 2026. The document details a series of tangible advances across institutional strengthening, infrastructure development, and global partnership building as the country works to rebuild and solidify its national armed forces.
One of the most notable early achievements highlighted in the report is the successful integration of 339 new soldiers from the “Capois la Mort” recruit class, a milestone that expands the core ranks of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H). Complementing this integration, a nationwide military recruitment drive launched during this period drew 17,722 total applications from across the country, with more than 24 percent of those submissions coming from women – a marked step toward greater diversity in the country’s military ranks. Ministry officials also completed six formal assessment missions across key military installations, which paved the way for the launch of major rehabilitation projects at three critical bases: Vertières, Anacaona, and Clercine. The upgrades, which focus on improving training facilities, on-base accommodation, and overall operational readiness, are designed to bring these aging facilities in line with modern military operational requirements.
In addition to infrastructure and personnel gains, the minister’s first 100 days have seen significant progress in updating the institutional foundation of Haiti’s military. Work is in the final stages of drafting a new, updated national military doctrine that will guide the force’s mission, structure, and operating principles for years to come. To ensure broad public input on the future direction of the FAd’H, the ministry announced that it will host a nationwide public forum in August 2026 focused on discussing the collective vision and long-term goals for the armed forces.
International military cooperation has also emerged as a key priority for Andrésol’s administration, with the report noting renewed momentum in building strategic partnerships with nations across the Americas and Europe. Over the 100-day period, the ministry deepened working relationships with France, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, the United States, and a number of other partner countries, unlocking new opportunities for training and capacity building. As a direct outcome of these strengthened ties, Argentina has awarded six full military training scholarships to Haitian service members: two allocated to the Army, two to the Navy, and two to the Air Force. Separately, under the bilateral cooperation agreement with Mexico, 114 recruits drawn from the 665 new members recently integrated at the Vertières base are scheduled to depart for specialized training in Mexico on August 24, 2026.
Looking ahead, the 100-day report lays out the clear priorities that will guide the FAd’H and the Ministry of Defense through the 2026-2027 Action Plan. These core priorities include continuing the systematic modernization of military infrastructure across the country, finalizing and rolling out the new national military doctrine, further expanding and deepening international defense cooperation, gradually integrating the large pool of new recruits that applied during the recent campaign, and consolidating the overall operational capabilities of the armed forces to better serve national security needs.
The full 39-page 100-day report, published in French, is available for public download via HaitiLibre’s official website.