Over 60 Rights Groups Urge Macron for Haiti Reparations

Over 60 international rights groups have collectively urged French President Emmanuel Macron to provide reparations to Haiti for the crippling payments made to France after Haiti's independence, which included compensation for lost 'property' such as slaves. These payments severely hindered Haiti's economic development, stalling its GDP growth for decades and causing a persistent cycle of foreign aid dependence and entrenched debt. The letter, supported by groups from the U.S., Africa, and the Caribbean, calls for substantial funding for development initiatives and debt cancellation. While President Macron has agreed to create a joint Franco-Haitian commission to examine the historical context and consequences of these payments, full reparations have not been formally discussed. The Caribbean regional bloc CARICOM also backs Haiti's claims and is collaborating with African nations to seek broader reparations for slavery's impacts. Haiti continues to face extreme poverty and escalating gang violence amid limited international support.