R47394 — Haiti: Recent Developments and U.S. Policy

Haiti, located on the island of Hispaniola bordering the Dominican Republic, remains mired in interrelated political, security, and humanitarian crises. Haiti lacks an elected president and legislature following the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Moïse had named Ariel Henry to be prime minister prior to his death, but Henry had not been sworn in as required under Haitian law. Since the assassination, a political stalemate has persisted over whether Henry or a transitional government should govern until elections are convened. A December 2022 Henry-backed accord aimed to create a path to elect a president by February 7, 2024. As that date has approached, protests against the de facto Henry government have escalated. The political impasse has hindered Haiti’s ability to respond to worsening security and humanitarian crises. In October 2022, Henry asked for a foreign security force to help reestablish control amid rampant gang violence. Although many Haitian civil society groups initially opposed this request due to concerns regarding abuses committed during past interventions and Henry’s unelected status, some have since expressed support for a foreign security force presence. After Kenya offered to lead a “multinational security support (MSS) mission,” the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution in October 2023 to authorize a non-U.N. mission funded by voluntary contributions. The status of the MSS is uncertain, however, as Kenya’s High Court has ruled the deployment unconstitutional. The crises in Haiti continue to fuel instability and U.S.-bound migration. U.S. Policy U.S. policy in Haiti has aimed to support Haitian efforts to restore security, the rule of law, democratic institutions leading to free and fair elections, and economic and social stability. The Biden Administration allocated $237.4 million in bilateral assistance for Haiti in FY2022 and $204.5 million in FY2023, including increased support for the Haitian National Police. The Administration requested $291.5 million for Haiti in FY2024. Separately, the Administration provided more than $126.5 million in humanitarian assistance to Haiti in FY2023. In March 2023, the Administration released a 10-year plan for promoting peace and stability in Haiti, a priority country under the Global Fragility Act (P.L. 116-94), supported by additional funds. The Administration pledged $100 million in foreign assistance and $100 million in Defense Department operational support to the proposed MSS. The U.S. Treasury and State Departments have publicly sanctioned eight current or former Haitian officials, including two former prime ministers, and several gang leaders. The United States co-drafted a U.N. Security Council resolution to sanction gang leaders in Haiti and their financial backers (adopted in October 2022). Congressional Action Congress set objectives for U.S. policy toward Haiti through 2025 in the Haiti Development, Accountability, and Institutional Transparency Initiative Act (P.L. 117-103, Division V). The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328), did not designate a total funding level for Haiti but placed democracy-related conditions on some assistance. Neither the House-passed (H.R. 4665/H.Rept. 118-146) nor the Senate Appropriations Committee-reported (S. 2438/S.Rept. 118-71) versions of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024, would designate a specific aid amount for Haiti. However, both measures would place restrictions on assistance to the central government. In addition to foreign assistance, the House passed, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee reported, bills (H.R. 1684/S. 396) that would require an annual State Department report on ties between gangs and politicians in Haiti and would direct the President to impose sanctions on individuals identified in the report. Bills to renew trade preferences for Haiti (H.R. 5035/S. 552) also have been introduced in both houses. Congressional oversight efforts in the 118th Congress have focused on the Administration’s plans to improve security and democracy in Haiti, its relationship with the Henry government, and its pledged support for a multinational force deployment to Haiti.

Curated by CRS — every bill listed in this report's relatedMaterials. Edge type cited_in_report, gold confidence.

• HR 6618 — ARMAS Act of 2023 · 118th Cong
• HR 5035 — HOPE for Haitian Prosperity Act of 2023 · 118th Cong
• HR 4665 — Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 · 118th Cong
• S 2438 — Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 · 118th Cong
• HR 1684 — Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2023 · 118th Cong
• S 552 — Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act of 2023 · 118th Cong
• S 396 — Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2023 · 118th Cong