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.
A tanker reported being struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, Britain's maritime security agency said, after the United States a...
The Central African Republic declared a cholera outbreak after 197 cases, including 24 deaths, were confirmed in two health districts southwest of the...
Venezuela’s government said on Saturday that 1,600 foreign rescue personnel have arrived to assist in the search for survivors of the devastating tw...
Australia said it would double the maximum penalty it can impose on tech firms found to have failed to uphold a groundbreaking social media ban for ch...
France said on Saturday it was considering taking reciprocal measures after Burkina Faso broke off diplomatic relations....
France said on Saturday it was considering taking reciprocal measures after Burkina Faso broke off diplomatic relations.
A severe heatwave sweeping across Europe has caused widespread disruption, with power outages reported in parts of France, emergency heat alerts issued in the United Kingdom and Spain, and growing pressure on energy and transport systems across the continent.
Extreme heat in France has killed hundreds of thousands of poultry and overwhelmed carcass disposal systems, agricultural organisations said. A severe heatwave continues to disrupt farming, energy supplies and daily life across Western Europe.
An unusual weather pattern known as an omega block is at the heart of the extreme heat sweeping across Europe. The phenomenon can trap hot air over the same region for days or even weeks, allowing temperatures to climb to dangerous levels.
Tens of thousands of people are still unaccounted for after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. At least 589 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds are believed to be trapped under rubble, as emergency crews and international rescue teams race to respond.
The U.S. Senate rejected a resolution on Wednesday that would have directed President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress formally authorised military action.
France said on Saturday it was considering taking reciprocal measures after Burkina Faso broke off diplomatic relations.
Japan remained on high alert Saturday as Typhoon Mekkhala approached the eastern coast after Typhoon Higos weakened into a tropical depression. Authorities warned of continued heavy rain, flooding, and landslides, according to media reports.
ANEWZ can exclusively report that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to visit Azerbaijan on 1 July.
Venezuela’s government said on Saturday that 1,600 foreign rescue personnel have arrived to assist in the search for survivors of the devastating twin earthquakes that killed more than 900 people this week.
Australia said it would double the maximum penalty it can impose on tech firms found to have failed to uphold a groundbreaking social media ban for children, as evidence mounts that the ban has had little effect on teen use.
France said on Saturday it was considering taking reciprocal measures after Burkina Faso broke off diplomatic relations.
Ukrainian-made Flamingo missiles hit a plant producing artillery systems and components for missile launch systems in Russia's Volgograd region overnight, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday.
A light aircraft crash into a high-rise building in Beijing's Chaoyang district on Friday killed one person and injured 13, the district government said on Saturday in a statement posted on its social media account.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment