Haiti: Recent Developments and U.S. Policy (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Revised Feb. 1, 2024 |
| Report Number |
R47394 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Clare Ribando Seelke; Karla I. Rios |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
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Summary:
Haiti, a Caribbean country that shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic (see
Figure 1), has been of ongoing interest to Congress and successive U.S. presidential
administrations because of its proximity to the United States, chronic instability, and vulnerability
to natural disasters.1 Although Haiti has endured corrupt, authoritarian leaders for much of its
history, governance arguably had improved in the years prior to a 2010 earthquake.2 That disaster
killed more than 200,000 people and set development back significantly. Despite extensive
international support for Haiti’s recovery, democratic institutions remain weak and the country
continues to contend with extreme poverty; wide economic disparities; and both human-made and
natural disasters, including an August 2021 earthquake that killed 2,000 people.
The situation in Haiti further deteriorated after
the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in
July 2021 led to uncertainty over who would
succeed him. Two days before the
assassination, Moïse named Ariel Henry to be
prime minister, but Henry was not sworn in.
Since most legislators’ terms had expired at the
time of the assassination, the Haitian legislature
lacked the quorum needed to select a president
to serve out the remainder of Moïse’s term, as
outlined in the Haitian Constitution.
Haiti still lacks an elected president, legislature,
and local government; the terms of the last 10
elected senators ended in January 2023. A
political standoff between de facto Prime
Minister Henry’s government and opposition
political and civil society leaders regarding
how to form a transitional government to stabilize the country and convene elections persists
amid a worsening security and humanitarian crisis. In October 2022, Henry requested
international support to help the Haitian National Police restore order. In mid-August 2023, the
United Nations (U.N.) Security-General outlined options for U.N. support for the deployment of a
multinational force to Haiti; the United States is preparing to introduce a U.N. Security Council
resolution to authorize such a deployment.3
The 118th Congress may consider options for responding to the interrelated political, security, and
humanitarian crises in Haiti and the Henry government’s request for international intervention.
This report provides a brief overview of the situation in Haiti and U.S. policy responses to date.
