Macron announces joint commission to examine Haiti’s independence debt to France

A joint commission of French and Haitian historians will examine the controversial issue of the enormous sum that Paris forced its former colony to pay for its independence 200 years ago and make recommendations, said French president Emmanuel Macron, April 17. Delete it, “Macron said in a statement, two centuries to the days after France imposed the payment for the now the nation’s payment by the nation by the parties.” For France, also, also France’s responsibility. of the truth. “

Haiti became the first free black nation in the Americas after the prosecutions rebelled against their French mamn in the colony of Saint Domingue, proclaiming their independence in 1804. Under the threat in in in April 1725 in April 1725 in in in in in in in in in the April “in in in, 1825 in in in in in in in in in in in in in in In in April “Inpepte”, in inpeptic.

Unable to pay, the new nation was forced to grant bank loans with high interest rates, borrowing even more at a time when the price of its main source of income, coffee, was the measurement of plaster. He only managed to pay what is known as his “double debt” in 1952.

Today, Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. It is unstable political, with stripes of the nation, including parts of the capital, under the control of rival armed gangs. Experts have argued that “double debt” hindered the development of Haiti both financially and political. French authorities have said that Haitian leaders also have responsibility.

Repair is not mentioned

On Thursday, Macron said that a joint commission of Franco-Haitian historians would be to examine the past and make recommendations “to attract lessons and build a more peaceful future.” Macron must draw your own conclusions.

France “submitted the people of Haiti to a strong financial compensation (…) This decision put a price on the freedom of a young nation, which faced the unfair force of history since its inception,” Macron added in the statement.

Duration of a visit to Paris in January, Leslie Voltaire, head of the Presidential Transition Council of Haiti, said Macron had mentioned a possible “restitution” to Haiti, but no comments were made on the subject on Thursday.

In 2003, former President Jean-Bertrand argued that his country’s “double debt” was equivalent to more than $ 21 billion, an estimate that France at that time called “anachronism.”

The Haiti commission is the last group of this type created by Macron, who has also established similar bodies to review the tight roles of France in Algeria, Rwanda and Cameroon.