Haiti
Republic of Haiti
Population
11.7M
GDP
$20.4B
Capital
Port-au-Prince
Government
Unitary semi-presidential re...
At a Glance
Human Development
0.5
HDI (0-1)
Democracy
2.8
EIU (0-10)
Press Freedom
—
RSF score
Corruption
—
TI CPI (0-100)
Innovation
—
GII score
Happiness
—
WHR (0-10)
Haiti is the Western Hemisphere's poorest country and the first Black republic, having won independence from France through a slave revolution in 1804. This historic achievement gives Haiti symbolic importance across the African diaspora and in discussions of colonialism, reparations, and racial justice.
Haiti has experienced repeated crises -- the devastating 2010 earthquake, political instability, the 2021 assassination of President Moise, and ongoing gang violence that has rendered much of Port-au-Prince ungovernable. The country has been the subject of multiple UN peacekeeping missions, including MINUSTAH (2004-2017) and BINUH.
Haiti's relationship with the UN is complicated by the MINUSTAH cholera scandal, in which UN peacekeepers introduced cholera to the country, killing an estimated 10,000 people. This legacy shapes Haitian attitudes toward international intervention.
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As Haiti, you carry the moral weight of the first successful slave revolution and the hemisphere's most desperate humanitarian crisis. Use Haiti's history to speak with authority on colonialism, reparations, and racial justice.
The cholera scandal gives you a legitimate grievance against the UN itself -- use it to demand accountability and reform of peacekeeping operations. Advocate for a Haitian-led stabilisation process rather than externally imposed solutions.
Coordinate with CARICOM and Francophone African states. Push for the French reparations debate -- Haiti's forced payment to France after independence is one of history's greatest injustices. On development, emphasise that Haiti needs structural investment, not just emergency relief.
Foreign Policy
Haiti's foreign policy is heavily constrained by its domestic crises and dependence on international aid and diaspora remittances. It is a member of CARICOM and La Francophonie, and maintains important bilateral relationships with the United States, France, Canada, and the Dominican Republic.
Haiti advocates for international support for stabilisation, development assistance, and addressing the root causes of migration. The question of French reparations for the indemnity Haiti was forced to pay after independence (effectively a 'freedom tax') has gained renewed international attention.