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Haiti commemorated its 221st year of independence on January 1, 2025, with a poignant ceremony in Port-au-Prince that spotlighted a long-standing grievance: the independence debt imposed by France nearly two centuries ago. Transitional Presidential Council leader Leslie Voltaire used the occasion to call for reparations and justice, framing the debt as a root cause of Haiti’s enduring economic struggles.
In 1825, Haiti, the first Black republic in the world, was coerced by France to pay 150 million gold francs—an astronomical sum at the time—as reparations to former French slaveholders for the loss of “property,” including enslaved people. This demand, enforced under the threat of military invasion, crippled Haiti’s economy. To meet the payments, Haiti took on loans from French and foreign banks, plunging the young nation into a cycle of debt that lasted more than a century.
“This injustice remains an open wound in our history,” Voltaire declared during his speech. He underscored the direct link between the debt and Haiti’s prolonged economic hardships, including poverty and limited access to development opportunities.
Voltaire’s address emphasized the necessity of reparations, echoing growing international support for addressing historic injustices tied to slavery and colonial exploitation. “The ransom extracted from Haiti not only stifled the potential of the first independent Black nation but also exemplifies the systemic inequality that has persisted for centuries,” he said.
He called on France to engage in dialogue, urging global leaders to support Haiti’s demand for restitution. “Acknowledging this debt is more than financial—it’s about justice and moral accountability,” Voltaire added.
The speech also tied Haiti’s current struggles, including widespread insecurity and economic instability, to its colonial and post-independence history. Voltaire announced plans to tackle these issues in 2025, including enhanced security measures and a push for democratic elections. However, he stressed that sustainable progress would require international acknowledgment of Haiti’s historical exploitation.
Haiti’s renewed demand aligns with broader movements advocating for reparations for colonial exploitation and slavery. Recent remarks by Pope Francis and other global leaders have spotlighted the moral imperative of addressing such historical injustices.
The anniversary concluded with tributes to Haiti’s revolutionary ancestors and reflections on the nation’s resilience. Yet the calls for France to repay the independence debt remain a central theme, underscoring Haiti’s quest for justice and true sovereignty in the modern era.
