Armed Forces of Haiti

Armed Forces of Haiti
Forces Armées d'Haïti (French)
Emblem of Haiti
Founded18 May 1803[1]
Current form17 November 2017
Service branchesHaitian Army
Haitian Aeronautical Corps (Corps Aéronautique des FAd'H)
Haitian Navy (Marine Haitienne)
HeadquartersPort-au-Prince, Haiti
Leadership
Commander-in-ChiefLt. Gen Jodel Lesage
Personnel
Military age18–25
Available for
military service
5,534,135, age 15–49
Active personnel4500 (2023)
Expenditure
Percent of GDP1.2
Industry
Foreign suppliers Taiwan
 Brazil
 Mexico
Related articles
HistoryMilitary history of Haiti
RanksMilitary ranks of Haiti

The Armed Forces of Haiti (French: Forces Armées d'Haïti; FAd'H) are the military forces of the Republic of Haiti, currently consisting of the Haitian Army, which has about 2000 active personnel as of 2023.[2]

The Haitian military originated during the Haitian Revolution as the Indigenous Army (Armée Indigène) that fought for independence, which was formally declared on 1 January 1804.[1] Haiti became a militarized country over the next several decades to protect its independence from a possible return of French troops, and as a result the military dominated the government and administration,[3] with the emergence of a military elite that held the political and economic power in the country.[4] The military was reorganized in the 1880s, being divided between a small active army that underwent the reform, and a much larger reserve army consisting of the old forces. There was also a small navy.[5] Between 1804 and 1915, all except one of Haiti's 26 heads of state were military officers.[6]

The Indigenous Army was disbanded during the United States occupation of Haiti in 1915 and replaced by the American-trained and -led Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie d'Haïti). In 1934, it was renamed the Garde d'Haiti and returned to Haitian command, before being renamed the Army of Haiti in 1947.[7] Finally, it was changed to the Armed Forces of Haiti in 1958 during the rule of François Duvalier.[8] After years of military interference in politics, including dozens of military coups and attempted coups, Haiti disbanded its military in 1995.[9] The Haitian National Police was established that same year to take over security.[10]

On 17 November 2017, the armed forces were restored by President Jovenel Moise. The Army was reestablished in 2018. The President suspended the previous executive orders by then President Jean-Bertrand Aristide who suspended and disbanded the armed forces on 6 December 1995.

As of 2023, an infantry battalion with 700 soldiers is in the process of being formed and there is also a small coast guard with 50 personnel,[11] though the Coast Guard is part of the Haitian National Police.[10]

  1. ^ a b Avril 1999, pp. 40–41.
  2. ^ ICI.Radio-Canada.ca, Zone International- (17 March 2023). "Le premier ministre haïtien sollicite l'armée pour contrer la violence des gangs". Radio-Canada (in Canadian French). Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  3. ^ Avril 1999, p. 43.
  4. ^ Gerlus 1996, pp. 240–242.
  5. ^ Avril 1999, pp. 52–53.
  6. ^ Gerlus 1996, p. 250.
  7. ^ Avril 1999, p. 31.
  8. ^ Laguerre 1993, p. 107.
  9. ^ "Haiti a step closer to having army again". USA Today. Petite Riviere de l'Artibonite, Haiti. Associated Press. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  10. ^ a b Metz 2001, pp. 477–479.
  11. ^ IISS 2023, p. 402.

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