Haiti

HAITI

Gang violence in Haiti (pop. 11.6 million) killed 1,554 people in the year ending 3/2024. Meanwhile, vigilantism sponsored by community groups opposing the gangs has killed 587 people in 2023-24. Apparently, there is no government except for a 9,000-person police force spread over the country.

Politicians and diplomats have called for an international force of Kenyans to patrol and reestablish order in Haiti. But Haiti has had a bad history of foreign interventions, e.g. UN troops 2004-2017, and US occupation 1915-1934.

Haiti became independent in 1804 after a slave revolt and a 13-year struggle with French and British forces. But in exchange for international recognition Haiti was saddled with a crushing indemnity by France in 1825 for loss of property including slaves; it took from 1825 until 1947 to pay off this indemnity. Meanwhile, Haiti lacking investment, became a peasant-based impoverished land, but one with a vibrant culture and the dignity of self-government.

Sources: The New York Times, 3/29/24 and The Economist, 3/30/24