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标签： Haiti

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  • Towards a new doctrine for the Armed Forces of Haiti

    Towards a new doctrine for the Armed Forces of Haiti

    Against a backdrop of ongoing efforts to strengthen Haiti’s national security infrastructure and align its military institutions with democratic standards, Haiti’s Minister of Defense Mario Andrésol has launched a key initiative outlined in his 2026-2027 Action Plan: the development of a new core doctrine for the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H).

    To ensure the final document draws on diverse, expert insight, Andrésol has assembled a working group of more than a dozen specialists spanning multiple relevant fields. The collaborative, consultation-driven approach is designed to pool perspectives from military practitioners, defense analysts, geopolitical scholars, strategic and security studies researchers, legal advisors, and criminologists, bringing together cross-sector expertise that goes beyond traditional military-only planning.

    The group includes a roster of high-profile, experienced professionals: former military leader General Prosper Avril, Colonel Antoine Atouriste, Lieutenant-Colonel Marie Sandry Charles Pierre, Prosper Charles of the Security Working Group, military historian Georges Michel, and Me James Boyard, a prominent Haitian security expert who also serves as Chief of Staff to Minister Andrésol, among other qualified contributors.

    Guided by clear framing requirements, the working group has been instructed to embed two critical priorities into the new doctrine. First, the document must update the FAd’H’s core mission to address the growing landscape of asymmetric and hybrid threats that challenge modern national security, expanding the traditional scope of national defense beyond conventional conflict. Second, the doctrine must strictly adhere to the normative standards expected of an armed force operating within a democratic society, including explicit commitments to human rights protections, compliance with international humanitarian law, and adherence to established principles of healthy civil-military relations.

    Minister Andrésol has expressed confidence that the interdisciplinary approach to drafting will produce a technical, rule-based document that is comprehensive, contextually relevant, and widely credible. The finished doctrine will serve as the foundational governing framework for what Haiti aims to build: a modern, professional military capable of adapting to a diverse range of national security challenges.

  • Return of the PM to Haiti, assessment of his official visit (video)

    Return of the PM to Haiti, assessment of his official visit (video)

    Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé returned to Port-au-Prince on Thursday, April 24, 2026, following an official working visit to the United States, and held a press conference immediately upon arrival at the Diplomatic Salon of Toussaint Louverture International Airport to outline key outcomes of his trip.

    Waiting to welcome the prime minister on the tarmac was a high-level cross-institutional delegation, including top members of the Haitian government: Marie Élisabeth Régine Joseph Haddad, Secretary General of the Presidency; Odilien Charles, Secretary General of the Council of Ministers; Lieutenant-General Derby Guerrier, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H), accompanied by senior military staff; and Vladimir Paraison, Director General of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), alongside the national police high command.

    In his opening remarks to reporters, Fils-Aimé framed the visit as a productive strategic engagement that aligned with Haiti’s most pressing national priorities: curbing widespread gang violence, shoring up fragile state institutions, and laying the groundwork for long-term, sustainable economic rebound. Over the course of his trip, the prime minister held more than 20 bilateral meetings with representatives of global and regional stakeholders.

    He placed particular emphasis on constructive, forward-looking discussions with senior leadership from three of the world’s leading multilateral financial institutions: the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Fils-Aimé noted that these talks centered on accelerating high-impact immediate programs focused on driving domestic private investment and expanding formal job opportunities across the country. “Every new job that we create is a direct, tangible blow to insecurity,” he emphasized, linking economic opportunity directly to the country’s ongoing fight against criminal gangs.

    On the security and governance fronts, Fils-Aimé shared that top global leaders have reaffirmed their unwavering support for Haiti’s efforts to restore full state sovereignty across national territory. These leaders include Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General Albert Ramdin, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, and other senior international figures. During his meetings, the prime minister also pushed for the rapid, full deployment of the multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF) and called for international support to strengthen Haiti’s national electoral infrastructure ahead of upcoming democratic processes.

    Closing his remarks, Fils-Aimé extended sincere gratitude to the international community and U.S. congressional leaders for their continued commitment to Haiti’s stability and development, framing the visit as a critical step forward in rebuilding partnerships to address the country’s most urgent challenges.

  • FLASH : An arson destroys the Botanical Garden of Les Cayes

    FLASH : An arson destroys the Botanical Garden of Les Cayes

    On April 25, 2026, just one day after global communities marked World Earth Day to celebrate and protect planetary biodiversity, a deliberate act of arson has left one of Haiti’s most important ecological and scientific sites in ruins: the Les Cayes Botanical Garden, a conservation hub decades in the making.

    Founded in 2003, the botanical garden grew far beyond a public green space over its 23 years of operation. Teams of botanists, conservationists and local researchers spent more than two decades traversing Haiti to collect and cultivate a one-of-a-kind collection of the country’s native and endemic plant species, many of which cannot be found anywhere else on Earth. The site also doubled as a critical wildlife refuge, supporting fragile local ecosystems and serving as a living laboratory for ecological research focused on Haiti’s unique natural heritage. Today, that decades-long work is gone: large swathes of the garden have been reduced to ash, with entire stretches left completely charred and unrecognizable.

    In an official statement released shortly after the fire was discovered, Haiti’s Ministry of the Environment issued a harsh condemnation of the intentional vandalism, announcing an immediate temporary closure of the site to the public. The closure will allow law enforcement and conservation authorities to secure the area and conduct a full, detailed assessment of the full scope of damage. The garden has been placed under formal police protection, with additional operational support provided by Haiti’s National Agency for Protected Areas (ANAP).

    The Ministry expressed profound dismay over the attack, noting that the blaze did not only damage the natural environment—it destroyed a national collective asset of incalculable scientific, cultural and ecological value to the Haitian people. Authorities have called for calm and public responsibility as the investigation proceeds, confirming that all necessary steps have been taken to secure the site and suspend all public and research activities pending the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings into the arson.

    Initial assessments of the damage underscore the unprecedented scale of the loss. Investigations remain open to confirm the full details of the attack and identify those responsible, but early observations confirm the permanent disappearance of multiple rare plant species, the irreversible destruction of intact native ecosystems, and the total loss of more than 20 years of accumulated scientific research data tied to the garden’s work.

    Ecovert Haiti, a leading Haitian environmental conservation organization, has framed the tragedy as more than a singular ecological and scientific loss—it is a urgent wake-up call for the entire nation. The organization has issued a public appeal to Haitian citizens, domestic institutional stakeholders and international conservation partners to unite in defense of Haiti’s irreplaceable natural heritage. Ecovert Haiti emphasized that this devastating destruction must serve as a catalyst to launch a broad national movement committed to biodiversity protection and building a more sustainable future for all Haitians.

  • URGENT : Yellow alert for 3 departments, reinforcements expected

    URGENT : Yellow alert for 3 departments, reinforcements expected

    On April 24, 2026, Haitian national disaster authorities issued a yellow-level heavy rain alert for three of the country’s northern departments, as a lingering cold front brings forecasts of intense precipitation that could trigger life-threatening flash floods and mudslides across large swathes of the nation.

    While the segment of the cold front currently impacting Haiti has begun to weaken, its residual effects continue to disrupt local atmospheric conditions, leaving unstable weather patterns across the system’s entire path. Forecasters note that lingering frontal instability, paired with the inflow of mildly moist air masses pushing into Haiti’s southern regions, has already sparked scattered rainfall across the Upper Artibonite, Lower Northwest, and multiple southern localities.

    These ongoing showers, which carry a high chance of turning into severe thunderstorms, are projected to grow in intensity through Friday afternoon, evening, and into overnight hours, eventually expanding to cover nearly the entire Haitian archipelago. The most extreme precipitation is expected to concentrate in Haiti’s far northern region, where dangerous conditions are forecast to persist longest. While gradual weather improvement is set to begin in the far north by overnight Friday, many low-lying areas in the far south can expect a soggy start to Saturday, April 25, with scattered wet conditions continuing through the morning.

    Meteorological projections estimate total 24-hour rainfall accumulations ranging from 100 millimeters to 200 millimeters across the far north, with steep, mountainous zones potentially recording totals in excess of 250 millimeters. Periodic wind gusts reaching 20 to 40 kilometers per hour will accompany the storm system, adding additional risk to already hazardous conditions.

    Haiti’s Hydrometeorological Unit (UHM), operating under the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR), partnered with the General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGPC) to issue the alert. In coordination with the National Disaster Risk Management Plan (SPGRD), the DGPC kept the yellow heavy rain alert active Friday for the Northwest, North, and Northeast departments. Officials have indicated emergency reinforcements are on standby to respond to potential disasters, as pre-existing saturated soil across the region creates high susceptibility to rapid flash flooding and landslides if the predicted heavy, intermittent rainfall materializes.

  • Haiti mobilizes its international partners

    Haiti mobilizes its international partners

    In a high-profile gathering on the margins of a UN Security Council session focused on the UN Secretary-General’s quarterly report on the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), Haiti’s top diplomatic and governmental leaders have made an urgent appeal for stepped-up global support to address the country’s escalating challenges. Held on Thursday, April 23, 2026, the side event was co-hosted by Haiti and Canada through their permanent missions to the United Nations, drawing an unprecedented cross-section of global stakeholders to coordinate action on Haiti’s crisis.

    More than 60 UN member states took part in the event, with major global and regional powers including the United States, France, Germany, China, Brazil, Kenya, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic sending representatives. Multiple leading international institutions also joined the deliberations, alongside senior officials heading key missions in Haiti. Attendees included Jack Christofides, the designated Special Representative for the Gangs Suppression Force (GSF), UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, and Carlos G. Ruiz Massieu, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Haiti.

    The core mandate of the gathering was to tighten coordination across three critical groups: UN Security Council members, nations contributing personnel and resources to the Gangs Suppression Force (GSF), and all international and regional partners that collaborate directly with Haitian state institutions. With the Caribbean nation grappling with prolonged gang violence, institutional instability, and stalled democratic progress, the event served as a platform for Haiti’s leadership to lay out its most pressing priorities for global support.

    In his keynote address to attendees, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé pressed the international community to ramp up its collective mobilization to back the Haitian government’s two core priorities: restoring national security and advancing the restart of the country’s electoral process. The Prime Minister underlined the critical urgency of fully deploying the GSF across Haiti to counter rampant gang activity, while also stressing that enhanced international backing is required to advance key institutional reforms. Among the most critical of these reforms, he highlighted strengthening the national justice sector and expanding efforts to combat systemic impunity for violence and corruption.

    The gathering marks a key moment in global diplomatic efforts to align behind Haiti’s recovery, as international stakeholders continue to work through the UN framework to coordinate a coordinated response to the country’s deepening crisis.

  • UN : Haiti between political hope and security emergency (video speech)

    UN : Haiti between political hope and security emergency (video speech)

    In a video address to the international community on April 23, 2026, UN Secretary-General Special Representative Ruiz Massieu outlined the stark dual reality currently defining Haiti: a rare moment of tangible institutional progress paired with an ongoing, devastating security emergency that continues to uproot millions of lives.

    Massieu framed the current moment as a striking Haitian paradox: while the country’s state institutions are slowly rebuilding their administrative function after years of collapse, large swathes of national territory remain deeply scarred by pervasive gang-related violence. He gave credit to the administration led by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé for successfully maintaining basic state continuity through a period of extreme instability. A key step forward highlighted by the envoy is the National Pact for Stability, signed by a broad cross-section of Haitian civil society, which signals a widespread commitment to forging a homegrown, Haitian-led solution to the years-long national crisis.

    The most significant milestone on the political path to normalcy, Massieu noted, is the successful completion of national political party registration — a process that has not been fully carried out since 2016. This foundational achievement paves the way for what the international community universally recognizes as the only legitimate end to the crisis: the holding of free, credible national elections that will restore full constitutional order to Haiti. Beyond this regulatory progress, the resumption of weekly Cabinet meetings inside Haiti’s National Palace, a practice that had been suspended for three years due to instability, marks a symbolic and practical step toward the state reclaiming control of central public spaces in the heart of Port-au-Prince.

    Coordination between Haitian national authorities and international support partners has also reached an unprecedented level of alignment, according to the UN envoy. The recent appointment of all key leadership positions at the United Nations Office for Security and Justice in Haiti, paired with strengthened operational coordination with Haiti’s national Gang Repression Force (FRG), has created a more unified front against armed groups.

    Even with these notable political gains, Massieu stressed that the overall security landscape remains deeply alarming. Recent targeted massacres in the Jean-Denis region and ongoing coordinated attacks across Haiti’s Southeast department prove that armed gangs retain both the capability and mobility to wreak widespread harm on civilian populations. As of the latest UN projections, the ongoing violence has displaced more than 1.45 million Haitians, who now live in overcrowded displacement camps or rely on host families for shelter. By the end of 2026, UN humanitarian estimates project that 6.4 million Haitians — more than half the country’s population — will require life-saving humanitarian assistance.

    To build lasting, sustainable peace in Haiti, Massieu argued that the international response cannot focus solely on security crackdowns. Reviving the country’s National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration is a critical priority, he said, as it creates a safe, viable path out of armed groups for young people who were forcibly recruited by gangs. Complementing this effort, the planned creation of specialized judicial units focused on prosecuting mass atrocities and transnational financial crime is designed to finally break the cycle of impunity that has enabled systemic violence in Haiti for decades.

    Massieu emphasized that Haiti currently stands at a critical window of opportunity that cannot be wasted. Drawing on a traditional Haitian proverb that notes shared burdens are lighter to carry, he called for sustained, unified international support to help Haitian institutions carry forward the progress they have made. The year 2026, he urged, must become the turning point where hard-won political progress finally translates to tangible, everyday security and improved living conditions for all Haitian citizens.

  • Strengthening of external security at the National Police Academy of Haiti

    Strengthening of external security at the National Police Academy of Haiti

    Against a backdrop of persistent instability and growing security challenges in Haiti, a landmark infrastructure project focused on strengthening the National Police Academy (ENP) located on Road of Frère has reached completion, with an official handover ceremony held on April 22, 2026. The event brought together key stakeholders: Vladimir Paraison, Acting Commander-in-Chief of the Haitian National Police (PNH), Japanese Ambassador to Haiti Kazuhiko Nishiuchi, and Xavier Michon, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

    This critical security upgrade project, made possible through full funding from the Japanese government and implemented on the ground by UNDP, was designed to address long-standing vulnerabilities at the academy, which operates in one of Haiti’s high-risk security zones. The goal of the initiative is to establish sustained protective infrastructure for the ENP’s facilities and guarantee uninterrupted training operations for new police recruits, a core priority for Haiti’s efforts to rebuild its national security capacity.

    The completed upgrades encompass a comprehensive range of improvements spanning security, utilities, and healthcare. For perimeter defense, the project delivered 1,350 linear meters of reinforced perimeter wall, topped with 850 meters of new barbed wire to block unauthorized access. The ENP’s lead security post received a full structural renovation, while a complete 360-degree video surveillance system covering the entire academy perimeter was installed, alongside a dedicated centralized surveillance room purpose-built to help security teams detect and respond to external threats proactively. In a sustainable energy upgrade, the outdated diesel-powered campus lighting was replaced with solar-powered streetlights that deliver more reliable, consistent illumination across the academy grounds. The project also included critical support for the on-site infirmary, with a donation of essential medications and new medical equipment including three fully functional X-ray machines. Finally, the ENP’s aging water supply network was fully repaired, eliminating long-standing service interruptions that have disrupted training activities in the past.

    Beyond the completed security upgrades, the ceremony brought announcements of upcoming development projects to expand PNH training capacity across the country. Michon confirmed that UNDP will soon break ground on a new facility that will add multiple classrooms and purpose-built dormitory space specifically for future female police recruits, a step designed to boost gender diversity within Haiti’s national police force. Additionally, two new regional PNH training centers are planned, one in northern Haiti and one in the south, to allow new recruits to complete training closer to their home communities, removing barriers to entry for candidates from remote areas.

    In his remarks at the ceremony, Ambassador Nishiuchi reaffirmed Japan’s unwavering solidarity with the Haitian people and government as the country works toward long-term political and social stability. He emphasized that Japan’s partnership with Haiti is rooted in a steady, incremental approach, advancing progress “one step at a time” through consistent, collaborative development and security support.

    Paraison extended formal gratitude to UNDP for the expert execution of the project and to the government and people of Japan for their critical financial investment, which he described as a powerful demonstration of international solidarity with Haiti’s security efforts. He also used the occasion to outline the PNH’s most pressing unmet needs, including the development of a specialized national trauma center for first responders, the reconstruction of multiple damaged police stations across the country—most notably the station in Miragoâne, which requires rebuilding of a rear dock, the acquisition of 500 new patrol vehicles to ensure sustained police presence in hard-to-reach rural areas, particularly ahead of upcoming national election periods.

    Following the formal handover, the delegation conducted an on-site visit to the pre-construction sites for the upcoming new dormitory and classroom facility. To mark the occasion and recognize the enduring cooperative relationship between Haiti and Japan, Paraison presented Ambassador Nishiuchi with an honorary plaque, a symbolic gesture highlighting the fraternal ties between the two nations.

  • Address by the Prime Minister of Haiti to the UN Security Council (video)

    Address by the Prime Minister of Haiti to the UN Security Council (video)

    In a high-stakes address to the United Nations Security Council on April 23, 2026, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé delivered an urgent appeal to the global community, calling for rapid, concrete and scaled-up support to curb the country’s spiraling insecurity crisis.

    The prime minister was joined by a senior Haitian government delegation that included Foreign Minister Raina Forbin, Minister of Planning and External Cooperation Sandra Paulemon, Special Advisor Guerly Leriche, and Erick Pierre, Haiti’s Permanent Representative to the UN headquarters in New York.

    Opening his remarks against the backdrop of one of the most severe security crises the Caribbean nation has faced in recent decades, Fils-Aimé reaffirmed that reestablishing full state authority across Haitian territory stands as his administration’s top policy priority. He stressed a foundational point for the country’s future: “Without security, there can be neither democracy nor development.”

    The prime minister acknowledged the early progress that national security forces, backed by the Gang Repression Force (FRG), have made in pushing back against armed gang control. Even so, he emphasized that the full, rapid deployment of the FRG is a critical unmet need, and that the force must be paired with sufficient funding, equipment and personnel to match the scale of the challenge at hand. Rejecting vague pledges of future support, Fils-Aimé made clear that the Haitian people require immediate action rather than empty promises, calling on all international partners to follow through on the commitments they have already made to Haiti’s stability.

  • URGENT : 3 departments on Alert threatened by heavy rain

    URGENT : 3 departments on Alert threatened by heavy rain

    On April 23, 2026, Haitian disaster management authorities issued an urgent weather alert, placing three northern departments of the country on heightened standby amid ongoing forecasts of heavy rain and thunderstorms. The National System for Risk and Disaster Management (SNGRD), working in coordination with the General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGDPC), has maintained a Yellow alert level for the North, Northeast, and Northwest departments, responding to persistent threats of flash floods and landslides across the far northern region of Haiti.

    Meteorological projections released on the same date confirm that unstable weather conditions will continue through the forecast period, bringing sustained downpours that raise the likelihood of sudden, life-threatening flooding and earth movement in vulnerable northern zones. Low-lying coastal areas, communities adjacent to ravines, and regions with a documented history of flood damage are identified as the highest-risk locations, prompting officials to roll out clear, actionable guidance for local residents to reduce potential harm.

    Civil protection authorities have issued specific safety instructions for populations residing in at-risk zones. First, households located near coastlines, ravines, or flood-prone terrain are advised to pre-arrange emergency shelter with relatives or friends located outside of high-risk areas to avoid being trapped by sudden flood surges. Second, officials have issued a strict warning against attempting to cross flooded waterways or roadways under any circumstances, regardless of whether travel is on foot, horseback, or by motor vehicle, as hidden debris, fast-moving currents, and weakened roadbeds create extreme, often fatal hazards. Third, residents are reminded to secure critical personal documents and valuable belongings by storing these items in elevated, water-tight locations to prevent irreversible damage.

    The alert remains in effect as meteorologists continue monitoring weather patterns, with authorities prepared to upgrade the warning level or issue additional guidance if conditions worsen across northern Haiti.

  • Leisure : Did you know ? #18

    Leisure : Did you know ? #18

    One of the most extraordinary artifacts ever uncovered by archaeology, the Antikythera Mechanism, continues to upend long-held assumptions about the technical capabilities of ancient civilizations, as shared in the 18th installment of the popular ‘Did You Know’ trivia series from Haiti-based media outlet HaitiLibre.

    Dated to the 2nd century BC, this intricate bronze artifact houses a sophisticated network of over 30 interlocking toothed gears. High-resolution X-ray analysis conducted in modern decades has unlocked the device’s true purpose: it served as a remarkably precise analog astronomical computer, capable of predicting the orbital positions of the Sun and Moon, forecasting solar and lunar eclipses, and even tracking the four-year competition cycle of the ancient Olympic Games. What makes this creation even more remarkable is that mechanical technology of comparable complexity did not reemerge across Europe until the 14th century — more than 1,500 years after the Mechanism was crafted.

    Before the discovery and analysis of this artifact, scholars widely believed that ancient Greek engineers had never developed such advanced mechanical expertise. The Mechanism’s existence has forced a complete reevaluation of ancient scientific knowledge, but it has also left researchers with enduring questions: where did the Greeks acquire the foundational knowledge to build this device, and how did this groundbreaking technology disappear from recorded use for more than a millennium? To this day, the Antikythera Mechanism remains one of the most puzzling and captivating objects in global archaeology.

    This fascinating fact appears as a featured answer on Quiz-HaïtiLibre, HaitiLibre’s free, no-registration general knowledge quiz platform. Designed for audiences of all ages and skill levels, the platform offers dozens of quiz games across three difficulty tiers — easy, intermediate, and difficult — with full support for both French and English languages. New content is added to the platform every month, with a recent April 8 update introducing 28 brand-new quiz games to challenge visitors.

    Quiz-HaïtiLibre invites users to test their knowledge across a wide range of topics, from Haitian current affairs and culture to global history, science, and specialized expert-level trivia. Curious readers can explore the full collection of quizzes and the entire ‘Did You Know’ trivia series at the platform’s official website: https://quiz.haitilibre.com/en.