Since gaining independence in 1804, the former French colony has been mired in poverty, crushing debt, violence and political upheaval, subjugated by dictators and foreign powers. And now, Haiti is ruled by armed gangs, without a functioning government.
How could Haiti even get to the point that its capital, Port-au-Prince, is paralyzed by armed gangs? For at least part of the answer, take a look at its history. You may find it hard to believe.
The island that Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic was visited by Columbus in 1492; he called it Hispaniola, claiming it for Spain. But Haiti eventually became a fabulously rich French colony, its plantations producing much of the world’s coffee and sugar.
In 1791, the enslaved Africans who worked those plantations revolted. What followed was a 13-year bloodbath. Then, on January 1, 1804, Haiti traded the French flag for its own. It became the first Black republic, and abolished slavery.
But in 1825, the French came back, with gunboats, and an outrageous demand: reparations. Haiti had to borrow the money, with interest, from – yes! – France.
In today’s currency, that would equal about $20 billion, according to Jake Johnston, the author of “Aid State,” an analysis of the effects of foreign intervention in Haiti. “They wanted to be paid to recognize Haiti,” said Johnston, “paid for their lost property, the enslaved population that had become an independent nation.”
The reparations that Haiti had to pay France had a huge impact on the country, said Haitian journalist and activist Monique Clesca.
