Haiti’s transitional leadership has called on the international community for immediate and decisive intervention as the country grapples with a deepening security crisis.
Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly, Anthony Franck Laurent Saint Cyr, president of Haiti’s Presidential Transitional Council, described the situation as a “war between criminals” that imposes violence on an unarmed population.
He urged the UN and its partners to mobilize substantial resources, insisting on “No half measures, but strong, coordinated, and immediate action.” Saint Cyr warned that heavily armed criminal networks not only threaten Haiti’s stability but also pose risks to the broader Caribbean region.
While acknowledging the courage of Haitian law enforcement and the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMAS), Saint Cyr expressed concern over the partial deployment of promised personnel.
Only a thousand members are currently on the ground, compared with the 2,500 initially planned, severely limiting the mission’s effectiveness in an emergency context.
In his address, the Haitian leader reaffirmed the aspirations of his people for development, human dignity, and peace. “Our dignified and resilient people claim these universal promises for themselves and for all humanity,” he said, highlighting the need for a global response to Haiti’s challenges.
Saint Cyr also invoked a historical context, marking 2025 as the bicentennial of the ordinance that forced Haiti to pay a ransom to France in exchange for recognition of its independence.
He stressed that the commemoration is “not a spirit of revenge, nor acrimony, but a duty of justice and truth,” and welcomed a June 5, 2025, resolution by the French National Assembly acknowledging the injustice of this imposed debt.
The Haitian president’s appeal underscores the urgency of addressing the country’s spiraling violence while reaffirming its commitment to historical justice, development, and regional stability.
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