A coalition of over 60 rights organisations has signed a letter addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron demanding reparations for Haiti, whose economy was burdened for decades by a 19th-century compensation debt to France.
The letter, dated Tuesday, accuses France of extracting wealth from Haiti under threat of invasion after the Caribbean nation declared independence in 1804. France forced Haiti to pay compensation for lost “property,” including enslaved people. The so-called “double debt,” compounded by interest, was paid over more than 100 years and is considered by many in Haiti as a ransom.
According to the letter, “The wealth extracted under this ransom set Haiti's GDP growth back by decades, and resulted in a cycle of foreign aid dependence and entrenched debt that persists to this day.”
Haiti currently has the lowest gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in the Americas and is grappling with widespread gang violence, economic instability, and a lack of strong international engagement.
French President Macron had previously acknowledged the shared “painful” past between the two countries and announced the formation of a Franco-Haitian commission of historians in April. However, he stopped short of mentioning reparations.
Haiti’s Minister of Culture and Communications, Patrick Delatour, said in May that the commission’s work would begin in July. He indicated that it would aim to lay the groundwork for potential reparations.
The appeal coincides with the 200th anniversary of Haiti’s agreement to begin paying the indemnity, which has drawn renewed scrutiny from historians and activists alike.
Signatories to the letter include diaspora and reparations advocacy groups based in the United States, Africa, and the Caribbean. The demands range from direct financial compensation to the cancellation of remaining debt and support for development programmes in healthcare, education, and cultural heritage.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which has taken a lead in reparations advocacy, supports Haiti’s claim and is also working with African nations to pursue broader justice from former colonial powers over the legacy of slavery.
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