The History of the Clintons in Haiti
by Mikelson Toussaint-Fils
Bill and Hillary Clinton first visited Haiti for their honeymoon in 1975, establishing a personal connection with the country.
In 1994, President Bill Clinton led Operation Uphold Democracy to restore the democratically elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who had been overthrown by General Raoul Cédras.
This U.S. intervention involved sanctions on the coup leaders and concluded with an agreement prompting Cédras to leave power peacefully.
Once Aristide resumed office, the Clinton administration influenced Haitian policies, including the dissolution of the Haitian army and the promotion of trade liberalization.
Under President René Préval, who succeeded Aristide, U.S.-Haiti relations continued, though tensions arose over economic reforms advocated by the Clinton administration.
After the 2010 earthquake devastated Haiti, Bill Clinton was appointed UN Special Envoy to Haiti, intensifying his involvement in the country’s rebuilding.
He co-chaired the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC) with Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, aiming to direct reconstruction funds and projects.
The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund was formed to attract donations for both short-term relief and long-term development efforts.
However, much of the pledged aid was channeled through NGOs rather than being managed directly by Haitian institutions, spurring concerns over local capacity-building.
Critics contended that the Clintons’ emphasis on foreign investment projects—like the Caracol Industrial Park—undermined Haitian-led initiatives.
Questions were also raised about Hillary Clinton’s role as Secretary of State in influencing Haiti’s 2010 presidential election outcome and shaping reconstruction priorities.
While the Clintons undoubtedly mobilized global attention and funding for Haiti, the overall legacy of their involvement remains contested, blending notable achievements with criticisms of external interference and limited long-term impact.
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