In an open letter to the nation, the diaspora, and the international community, the League warns of a deepening crisis of sovereignty and outlines five non-negotiable principles for a credible path forward.
By Ligue Dessalinienne (LIDE)
Port-au-Prince, April 23, 2026, CPGNNews | CaribPulse Global Network News.
Amid one of the most critical periods in its contemporary history, the Ligue Dessalinienne (LIDE), a civil society organization rooted in the legacy of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, has issued a solemn open letter addressed to the Haitian nation, its diaspora, and the international community. The League warns that Haiti is confronting not merely a crisis of governance, but a profound erosion of sovereignty, justice, and national purpose.
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Subject: Solemn Call for National Refoundation in the Face of a Multidimensional Crisis and the Collapse of Sovereignty.-
Preamble: A Legitimate Interpellation Grounded in History and Law.
The Ligue Dessalinienne, heir to the founding memory of Jean-Jacques Dessalines and committed to the principles of sovereignty, social justice, and Haiti’s moral renewal, deems it necessary to solemnly address both the national conscience and the informed attention of the international community.
Haiti, a founding member of the United Nations, a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and an active participant in the inter-American system, now finds itself in a situation where its commitments to human rights, public security, and democratic governance can no longer be effectively upheld.
In the face of such a profound weakening of the state’s essential functions, silence cannot be considered a neutral stance. Under these conditions, silence does not protect it accelerates decline.
I. A Lucid Assessment: A Critical Moment in Contemporary History.-
Haiti is experiencing one of the most critical periods in its contemporary history. Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, the country has descended into a multidimensional crisis political, security-related, social, and institutional of an intensity not witnessed since the end of the Duvalier era.
Beyond institutional fragility, it is the very fabric of everyday life that has been profoundly affected. In numerous areas of the capital and across the country, non-state armed groups exert effective control, displacing populations, disrupting economic activity, and further weakening an already fragile state.
Entire territories now operate beyond public authority. Communities live under constraint, sometimes in conditions akin to confinement. In such areas, the state is no longer a structuring presence.
In this context, a significant portion of the Haitian population lives under constant insecurity. No sustainable national project can emerge where fear and uncertainty prevail.
Successive political transitions have neither restored republican authority nor created the conditions for credible, inclusive, and transparent elections. This prolonged impasse has deepened public distrust, accelerated social fatigue, and reinforced the perception of national abandonment.
II. A Crisis of Sovereignty, Beyond Governance.-
The situation in Haiti cannot be reduced to a governance issue alone. It reflects a deeper crisis of sovereignty, justice, and national direction.
When armed groups exercise control over territory, strategic infrastructure, and economic corridors, the authority of the Republic itself is fundamentally challenged. When institutions fail to guarantee the protection of citizens and the exercise of basic rights, the question of sovereignty becomes unavoidable.
In such circumstances, the retreat of the state creates space for alternative forms of power lacking legitimacy, legal grounding, and accountability.
The Dessalinienne League recalls that the independence proclaimed in 1804 retains its full meaning only if it is expressed, in concrete and continuous terms, through dignity, security, and the well-being of the population.
As Emperor Jacques I declared, “I saved my country; I have nothing to refuse my fatherland.” This statement was not symbolic it articulated a standard of responsibility that continues to apply today.
III. The Limits of Transitional Frameworks and Non-Negotiable Principles.-
For several years, Haiti has been caught in a cycle of prolonged and fragile transitions, often marked by limited transparency and weak institutional legitimacy. In the absence of electoral legitimacy, basic security, and credible institutions, such arrangements cannot produce lasting stability.
The present situation calls for more than incremental adjustments. It requires a structured and principled refoundation.
Any credible path forward should rest on the following non-negotiable principles:
- The effective restoration of public security across the entire national territory;
- A decisive fight against impunity, supported by an independent and functional judiciary;
- The restoration of state authority within the framework of the rule of law;
- The establishment of a credible, inclusive, and transparent electoral process;
- The development of a national strategy focused on the population’s fundamental needs.
IV. Toward a Responsible and Demanding Refoundation.-
The Dessalinian legacy must be understood not as a symbolic reference, but as a call to action. It demands a transformation of political, economic, and institutional practices.
National refoundation implies a clear break with entrenched patterns of corruption, exclusion, and structural dependency that have weakened the state. It also requires a redefinition of international cooperation anchored in respect for national priorities, transparency, and mutual accountability.
Contemporary academic and civic reflections converge on the need for a national project grounded in historical awareness, youth engagement, active citizenship, and the strengthening of the rule of law.
V. A Call to Collective Responsibility.-
The Dessalinienne League addresses all sectors of Haitian society:
- To political, economic, and intellectual leaders: the present moment demands responsibility commensurate with the gravity of the situation;
- To Haitian youth: your informed and organized engagement is essential to any meaningful transformation;
- To the diaspora: your role extends beyond economic support and constitutes a vital component of national reconstruction;
- To the Haitian people in all their diversity: sustainable recovery depends on collective, conscious, and long-term mobilization.
VI. Convergence and Outlook.-
The Ligue Dessalinienne calls for a convergence of national actors around a shared foundation of principles and objectives.
Neither a resolution without the rule of law, nor reliance on externally driven solutions, can provide a durable path forward. National refoundation can only emerge from a collective will that is lucid, structured, and responsible.
Conclusion: A Defining Choice.-
Haiti stands at a defining moment in its history. Between resignation and refoundation, the choice is no longer theoretical it is immediate and consequential.
The Dessalinienne League reaffirms its commitment to a path grounded in sovereignty, dignity, and the general interest. In the absence of a deliberate and collective national choice, future trajectories risk being shaped outside the interests of the Haitian people.
The time calls not for hesitation, but for clarity, unity, and responsible action.
Done in Port-au-Prince, April 23, 2026.
On behalf of the Ligue Dessalinienne (LIDE)
Casséus Josué, Av.
President of the Ligue Dessalinienne.
