Could a Terrorist Designation be The Last Nail in Haiti's Coffin as a Nation-State?

For decades, we have condemned the U.S. State Department for interfering in Haiti's internal affairs—supporting corrupt elites, undermining grassroots movements, and shielding the oligarchy. Many argue that the State Department has been the bane of our existence. Yet now, many of us are celebrating the news that this very institution might designate Haitian gangs as terrorists.

Once again, we Haitians claim that the U.S. is the enemy, but simultaneously want to outsource our national responsibilities to that very enemy. This cognitive dissonance remains unresolved.

The proposed terrorist designation isn't a show of care and solidarity but could be another nail in the coffin of our nation-state.

It is clear to me that the U.S. could intervene decisively in Haiti if it chose to. It hasn't. It should also be clear, even to the passive observer, that this administration in particular is unlikely to intervene – certainly not in a “shit hole country” like Haiti where it has no national interest, despite Haitians believing the contrary. The proposed terrorist designation isn't a show of care and solidarity but could be another nail in the coffin of our nation-state.

Labeling Haitian gangs as terrorists carries serious implications, but won't solve the problem. Instead, it will place our country under an even more severe global spotlight. Unlike other nations where terrorist designations for gangs were largely contained to those specific groups, Haiti could yet again be an outlier where the entire country is affected because of the deeply entrenched links between these armed groups and the political and economic elites. This designation could cast a shadow over the entire nation, making it harder for businesses to operate and for the diaspora to engage without suspicion.

Potential Consequences

This designation could have severe consequences. Financial institutions could become increasingly reluctant to process transactions involving Haiti, effectively cutting off legitimate businesses from the global economy. Our asylum seekers abroad could face greater scrutiny. Humanitarian organizations could encounter additional bureaucratic hurdles in delivering vital assistance. Our already limited diplomatic leverage could be further diminished in international forums. Our Caribbean neighbors could implement stricter border controls and immigration policies toward us, if that is even possible. Foreign investment, already down to a trickle, could dry up completely as companies avoid compliance risks associated with operating in a country harboring designated terrorist groups. Even legitimate civil society organizations working in our affected communities could face increased scrutiny and restrictions.

This economic isolation could severely impact the flow of remittances, which have kept our country on life support. All this would happen after eliminating U.S. aid programs that provided crucial food, healthcare, and education lifelines. These remittances, our economic lifeline, could be delayed, blocked, or subjected to additional scrutiny as financial institutions implement more stringent compliance measures to avoid penalties associated with transferring money to regions with terrorist activity.

The Dominican Question

When we step back and dispassionately examine this designation, it's important to note that the Dominican Republic has already designated Haitian gangs as terrorist organizations. With the U.S. potentially following suit, the DR could gain both additional international cover and what they might perceive as an affirmative obligation to intervene in Haiti's governance. This U.S. designation could fundamentally reshape the DR's foreign policy toward Haiti, potentially legitimizing more aggressive cross-border operations under the banner of counter-terrorism. After all, how could they ensure their people's safety when their neighbor harbors terrorists? They could strengthen their "duty to protect" argument on the international stage, and therefore have even stronger wind at their backs to step in and bring order to the island, perhaps with tacit U.S. approval or at least acquiescence.

As the adage goes, be careful what you wish for, as you just might get it.

The Final Irony

One final point to make is that the same U.S. government pursuing this designation is preparing to deport over 500,000 of our people, and this designation would not stop them. The profound irony shouldn't be lost on anyone—the U.S. would be knowingly sending people back to a place it officially recognizes as harboring terrorists, effectively condemning these deportees to live under the rule of terrorists.