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The Defence Force of Haiti (French: Force de Défense d'Haïti) was the envisaged name of the planned, reconstituted armed forces of the Republic of Haiti. Haiti had not had a regular armed forces since 1995; a process to reestablish them was initiated in 2011 and culminated in their remobilization (under the old name: Forces Armées d'Haiti - FAd'H) in 2017.
Due to decades of coups and counter-coups, the regular Haitian Army, Navy, and Air Force were abolished in 1995. The formal disbandment of the military, however, did not end its involvement in national life. In 2004 a paramilitary force of former Haitian soldiers, backed by the United States and France, deposed the government of Jean Bertrand Aristide.[1] Several years later, a group of former members of the Haitian military began the private, voluntary training of young men in field-craft and military tactics as a demonstration of the potential of a new armed force.[2] By 2012 these recruits numbered between 3,000 and 15,000.[3] That same year, Haitian veterans forcibly occupied several decommissioned army posts to press the government to reestablish the military, and later interrupted a meeting of the Chamber of Deputies to demand the approval of Laurent Lamothe's nomination as prime minister, an action which UN officials denounced as an "unacceptable act of intimidation."[3][4]
Popular dissatisfaction with the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti has helped pave the way for the reconstitution of the Haitian armed forces.
In 2011, following his election as president of Haiti, Michel Martelly promised to reestablish the military. The move was generally seen as a popular response to widespread public dissatisfaction with the ongoing United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti; the unsanitary and poor practices of Nepalese UN soldiers were cause to a cholera epidemic while Uruguayan and Pakistani UN troops were allegedly complicit in the rape of Haitian boys.[5][6][7] Carl Alexandre, deputy United Nations envoy overseeing police and judicial reform in Haiti, meanwhile blamed "proliferating armed forces" by the Haitian government as a reason for increased bandit attacks in the countryside, and called on the Haitian National Police to be affirmed as the country's only security apparatus.[8]
Critics of the planned force note that Haiti does not have any enemies, however, proponents point to the need to fill a "security vacuum" they say will emerge following the departure of the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti, and that a military is needed to fulfill missions such as securing the nation's porous border with the Dominican Republic, responding to natural disasters, and restoring "national pride".[9]
Training and recruitmentedit
An initial plan envisaged a military force of 3,500 personnel operational by 2014.[10] Aided by Ecuador, Haiti had managed to raise and train a force of 41 personnel by September 2013, though this nucleus unit of sappers, officially termed the "Corps of Engineers," was unarmed and mission focused on infrastructure construction.[11] The following January an additional contingent of 30 recruits left the country for training in Ecuador and, in November of that year, a further 40 recruits left for Ecuador to partake in the eight-month course.[12][13]
In July 2015, Martelly formally announced the new force would be called the Force de Défense d’Haïti (Defence Force of Haiti) and would be tasked with "control of our borders, our sea and air space and [preparing for] the departure of UN forces." According to Martelly, a stepped-up recruitment campaign was set to begin in October 2015.[14]
In October 2017, under the administration of Jovenel and Prime Minister Lafontant, President Moise who is allied with former President Martelly remobilized the Armed Forces. The Haitian National Police remained under a UN mandated mission called MINIJUSTH until its expiration in 2019.
^Edmonds, Kevin. "Restoration of the Haitian Army: Martelly Keeps One Campaign Promise". nacla.org. NACLA. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
^"Would-be soldiers hope for revival of Haitian army". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
^ ab"Haiti's Paramilitary Threat". coha.org. Council on Hemispheric Affairs. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
^Daniel, Trenton (24 November 2012). "Haiti veterans in hiding renew vow to remobilize". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
^"Haiti's army Who needs them?". The Economist. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
^"Armed Forces". globalsecurity.org. Global Security. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
^Baptiste, Nathalie (11 March 2014). "Back to Dark Days in Haiti?". The Nation. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
^Charles, Jacqueline (15 October 2013). "Armed bandits testing Haiti's understaffed police forces". Miami Herald. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
^Trenton, Daniel (5 December 2011). "Nobel Laureate: Haiti pres's army plan an "error"". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
^Delva, Joseph. "Haiti president lays out path to restore army". Reuters.
^"Haiti a step closer to having army again". USA Today. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
^Delva, Joseph (14 February 2014). "Haiti new military force now effective, launches operations". Haitian Caribbean News Network. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
^"Haiti – Army : Graduation of 40 Haitian soldiers trained in engineering and combat". Haiti Libre. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
^"The country is ready to reform its army". Haiti Libre. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
External linksedit
Official website for the Ministry of Defence (in French)
euronews video showing inspection of first contingent of FDH troops on return from Ecuador
December 15, 2023
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This article s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article September 2015 This article needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information June 2021 The Defence Force of Haiti French Force de Defense d Haiti was the envisaged name of the planned reconstituted armed forces of the Republic of Haiti Haiti had not had a regular armed forces since 1995 a process to reestablish them was initiated in 2011 and culminated in their remobilization under the old name Forces Armees d Haiti FAd H in 2017 Armed Forces of HaitiForces Armees d HaitiMottoProteger et Defendre Protect and Defend Founded19th century original Current form2017Service branchesHaitian ArmyHaitian NavyHaitian Air ForceHaitian Coast GuardHeadquartersPort au PrinceLeadershipPresident of HaitiAriel HenryMinister of DefenceJean W DornevalCommander in ChiefBrig Gen Sadrac SaintilRelated articlesHistoryMilitary history of HaitiRanksMilitary ranks of Haiti Contents 1 History 2 Training and recruitment 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editDue to decades of coups and counter coups the regular Haitian Army Navy and Air Force were abolished in 1995 The formal disbandment of the military however did not end its involvement in national life In 2004 a paramilitary force of former Haitian soldiers backed by the United States and France deposed the government of Jean Bertrand Aristide 1 Several years later a group of former members of the Haitian military began the private voluntary training of young men in field craft and military tactics as a demonstration of the potential of a new armed force 2 By 2012 these recruits numbered between 3 000 and 15 000 3 That same year Haitian veterans forcibly occupied several decommissioned army posts to press the government to reestablish the military and later interrupted a meeting of the Chamber of Deputies to demand the approval of Laurent Lamothe s nomination as prime minister an action which UN officials denounced as an unacceptable act of intimidation 3 4 nbsp Popular dissatisfaction with the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti has helped pave the way for the reconstitution of the Haitian armed forces In 2011 following his election as president of Haiti Michel Martelly promised to reestablish the military The move was generally seen as a popular response to widespread public dissatisfaction with the ongoing United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti the unsanitary and poor practices of Nepalese UN soldiers were cause to a cholera epidemic while Uruguayan and Pakistani UN troops were allegedly complicit in the rape of Haitian boys 5 6 7 Carl Alexandre deputy United Nations envoy overseeing police and judicial reform in Haiti meanwhile blamed proliferating armed forces by the Haitian government as a reason for increased bandit attacks in the countryside and called on the Haitian National Police to be affirmed as the country s only security apparatus 8 Critics of the planned force note that Haiti does not have any enemies however proponents point to the need to fill a security vacuum they say will emerge following the departure of the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti and that a military is needed to fulfill missions such as securing the nation s porous border with the Dominican Republic responding to natural disasters and restoring national pride 9 Training and recruitment editAn initial plan envisaged a military force of 3 500 personnel operational by 2014 10 Aided by Ecuador Haiti had managed to raise and train a force of 41 personnel by September 2013 though this nucleus unit of sappers officially termed the Corps of Engineers was unarmed and mission focused on infrastructure construction 11 The following January an additional contingent of 30 recruits left the country for training in Ecuador and in November of that year a further 40 recruits left for Ecuador to partake in the eight month course 12 13 In July 2015 Martelly formally announced the new force would be called the Force de Defense d Haiti Defence Force of Haiti and would be tasked with control of our borders our sea and air space and preparing for the departure of UN forces According to Martelly a stepped up recruitment campaign was set to begin in October 2015 14 In October 2017 under the administration of Jovenel and Prime Minister Lafontant President Moise who is allied with former President Martelly remobilized the Armed Forces The Haitian National Police remained under a UN mandated mission called MINIJUSTH until its expiration in 2019 See also edit nbsp Haiti portalGendarmerie of Haiti Military history of Haiti Armed Forces of HaitiReferences edit Edmonds Kevin Restoration of the Haitian Army Martelly Keeps One Campaign Promise nacla org NACLA Retrieved 6 September 2015 Would be soldiers hope for revival of Haitian army Lubbock Avalanche Journal 9 March 2011 Retrieved 6 September 2015 a b Haiti s Paramilitary Threat coha org Council on Hemispheric Affairs Retrieved 6 September 2015 Daniel Trenton 24 November 2012 Haiti veterans in hiding renew vow to remobilize San Diego Union Tribune Retrieved 6 September 2015 Haiti s army Who needs them The Economist 19 October 2013 Retrieved 6 September 2015 Armed Forces globalsecurity org Global Security Retrieved 6 September 2015 Baptiste Nathalie 11 March 2014 Back to Dark Days in Haiti The Nation Retrieved 6 September 2015 Charles Jacqueline 15 October 2013 Armed bandits testing Haiti s understaffed police forces Miami Herald Retrieved 6 September 2015 Trenton Daniel 5 December 2011 Nobel Laureate Haiti pres s army plan an error San Diego Union Tribune Retrieved 6 September 2015 Delva Joseph Haiti president lays out path to restore army Reuters Haiti a step closer to having army again USA Today 16 September 2013 Retrieved 6 September 2015 Delva Joseph 14 February 2014 Haiti new military force now effective launches operations Haitian Caribbean News Network Retrieved 6 September 2015 Haiti Army Graduation of 40 Haitian soldiers trained in engineering and combat Haiti Libre Retrieved 6 September 2015 The country is ready to reform its army Haiti Libre 22 July 2015 Retrieved 6 September 2015 External links editOfficial website for the Ministry of Defence in French euronews video showing inspection of first contingent of FDH troops on return from Ecuador Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Defence Force of Haiti amp oldid 1171199413, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
