My Wishes for Haiti on the Eve of 2026
By La Rédaction · Port-au-Prince · · 2 min read · Updated 24 April 2026
Translated from French — AI-assisted and reviewed by the editorial team. The French version is authoritative. Read the original · About our translation policy
Haiti, cradle of modern liberties and the first independent Black Republic, is currently going through one of the most troubling periods in its history. A lost paradise on the edge of the Caribbean, it faces an unprecedented systemic crisis since the founding act of 1804. This dramatic situation is the result of a combination of clearly identifiable responsibilities: the persistent incompetence of almost all its leaders, endemic corruption as old as the Haitian state itself, the constant humiliation and hypocrisy of the West, internal power struggles, but also the collective inability of Haitian men and women to unite, without foreign dictation, around a project for the refoundation of the state and a new social contract. These combined factors have shipwrecked the country.
As 2026 approaches, the exercise of expressing wishes cannot be reduced to mere rhetorical circumstance. It must be an act of lucidity and civic engagement.
My first wish is the end of generalized insecurity. No state can survive long when its territory is surrendered to armed violence, fear, and the collapse of public authority. Security is the foundation of all national life. Without it, there is no viable economy, no functional school, no civic coexistence. Haiti must rediscover the peace that will allow it to become a hospitable, open, and respected country once again.
My second wish is the effective re-establishment of republican institutions through credible, honest, and inclusive elections. The country vitally needs patriotic, competent, honest leaders who are aware of the historical significance of their responsibilities. It needs decision-makers capable of reconciling the nation with itself, of firmly defending the material and spiritual interests of the state, of designing and implementing genuine development policies, but also of shedding full light on the management of those whom public opinion accuses of embezzlement and malfeasance. Without justice and accountability, democracy will remain an empty word.
My third wish is the full recovery of national sovereignty. The first legitimate and constitutional government to emerge from this long period of drift must undertake a profound reorganization of the state, particularly of the diplomatic and consular service, to restore to Haiti a credible, dignified, and respected voice on the international stage.
Despite the scale of the disaster, not everything is irretrievably lost. Haitian history is marked by unexpected resurgences. The country lacks neither intelligence nor courage, but a collective awakening and convinced men and women capable of placing national interest above personal ambitions. The year 2026 can still be one of recovery, if the will to (re)build finally triumphs over the temptation of ruin. Pierre Josué Agénor Cadet
As 2026 approaches, the exercise of expressing wishes cannot be reduced to mere rhetorical circumstance. It must be an act of lucidity and civic engagement.
My first wish is the end of generalized insecurity. No state can survive long when its territory is surrendered to armed violence, fear, and the collapse of public authority. Security is the foundation of all national life. Without it, there is no viable economy, no functional school, no civic coexistence. Haiti must rediscover the peace that will allow it to become a hospitable, open, and respected country once again.
My second wish is the effective re-establishment of republican institutions through credible, honest, and inclusive elections. The country vitally needs patriotic, competent, honest leaders who are aware of the historical significance of their responsibilities. It needs decision-makers capable of reconciling the nation with itself, of firmly defending the material and spiritual interests of the state, of designing and implementing genuine development policies, but also of shedding full light on the management of those whom public opinion accuses of embezzlement and malfeasance. Without justice and accountability, democracy will remain an empty word.
My third wish is the full recovery of national sovereignty. The first legitimate and constitutional government to emerge from this long period of drift must undertake a profound reorganization of the state, particularly of the diplomatic and consular service, to restore to Haiti a credible, dignified, and respected voice on the international stage.
Despite the scale of the disaster, not everything is irretrievably lost. Haitian history is marked by unexpected resurgences. The country lacks neither intelligence nor courage, but a collective awakening and convinced men and women capable of placing national interest above personal ambitions. The year 2026 can still be one of recovery, if the will to (re)build finally triumphs over the temptation of ruin. Pierre Josué Agénor Cadet
