Haitians outraged by Macron’s comments at G20 Summit

Haitians have expressed widespread outrage following remarks made by French President Emmanuel Macron at the recent G20 summit in Brazil.

A video recorded during the summit shows Macron responding to a Haitian man who criticized France for Haiti’s current crises. In the footage, Macron is heard referring to Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council as “total morons” for dismissing former Prime Minister Garry Conille and blaming Haitians for turning the nation into a “narco-state.”

The video, which surfaced online on Thursday, has triggered indignation across Haiti. The Haitian government summoned the French ambassador to explain the comments, while citizens in Port-au-Prince voiced frustration at what they perceive as France’s ongoing disregard for Haiti’s struggles.

Truck driver Nicolas Jean Bernett, speaking in the capital, dismissed Macron’s remarks as offensive and rooted in colonial attitudes. “The French still think of us as animals, just like in the days of slavery,” he said.

Economist Camille Chalmers, Executive Secretary of the Haitian Advocacy Platform for an Alternative Development (PAPDA), described Macron’s comments as “contemptuous” and reflective of ignorance about Haitian history. Chalmers stressed France’s historical responsibility, referencing the debilitating independence debt Haiti was forced to pay after the country’s successful slave revolt in 1804, which made it the world’s first Black republic.

“France owes Haiti reparations for the ransom it imposed for independence,” Chalmers said. “They also bear responsibility for the chaotic situation Haiti is experiencing today.”

The controversy comes amidst ongoing instability in Haiti. On November 5, the Transitional Presidential Council replaced interim Prime Minister Garry Conille with Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, deepening the nation’s political uncertainty.

Following the transition, armed gangs, which control 85% of Port-au-Prince, launched fresh attacks on an upscale neighborhood. Residents joined forces with police in attempts to repel the violence, highlighting the dire security challenges facing the country.

Gang violence has surged across Haiti this year, killing thousands and displacing over 700,000 people, according to an October report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The strained relationship between Haiti and its former colonizer continues to be a source of tension. Macron’s remarks have reopened historical wounds and fueled calls for accountability from France as Haiti grapples with its ongoing crises.

The fallout from this diplomatic incident adds yet another layer to Haiti’s multifaceted challenges, from political instability to escalating violence.