« Haiti cannot and will not be able to face such a challenge alone »: Laurent Saint-Cyr's cry to the UN

H.E.M. Laurent Saint-Cyr's speech before the UN General Assembly on September 25, 2025, calls for strong international action to restore peace in Haiti, threatened by gang violence and a severe humanitarian crisis. He insists on the need for regional cooperation, securing borders, and moving towards free elections despite security challenges. Saint-Cyr also demands historical reparations and highlights the Transitional Presidential Council's commitment to restoring hope to the Haitian people.

Before the United Nations General Assembly, Laurent Saint-Cyr conveyed the voice of a dignified and resilient Haitian people, facing a devastating war between armed gangs and an unarmed civilian population. He described a dramatic situation: over a million internally displaced persons, razed neighborhoods, closed schools, women and children victims of horrific violence, and a ruined healthcare system with closed hospitals and fleeing doctors. Hunger and food insecurity are rampant, threatening the survival of millions.

The President of the Transitional Presidential Council calls on the international community to no longer remain silent or inactive in the face of this « contemporary Guernica », located just a few hours' flight from the Americas. He urges the immediate deployment of a robust multinational force, equipped with sufficient resources and a clear mandate, to effectively combat the criminal groups destabilizing not only Haiti but the entire region. Saint-Cyr emphasizes that these transnational mafia networks threaten regional peace and demand a global response, including strengthened customs controls and increased intelligence sharing.

To support the restoration of democracy, he highlights the progress made in election preparation, with over 85% of polling centers identified and significant mobilization of electoral staff, despite the difficult security context. He calls for international solidarity to ensure free, inclusive, and credible elections, which will allow the Haitian people to choose their leaders.

Beyond the security and political emergency, Laurent Saint-Cyr insists on the need for a strong humanitarian response and sustainable investment in economic development. He presents a vision of two major economic hubs, in the North and South, targeting strategic sectors such as agribusiness, textiles, renewable energy, and tourism, to create jobs and combat long-term poverty. He also calls for the renewal of the HOPE/HELP Act and support for urban renewal projects to move Haiti out of the emergency aid cycle.

Finally, he calls on France and the international community to recognize and repair the historical injustice related to the ransom imposed on Haiti after its independence. He pays tribute to the Haitian diaspora, an integral part of the country's development, and emphasizes the need for respectful treatment for all Haitian migrants worldwide. Saint-Cyr concludes by stating that silence in the face of this crisis would be complicity, and issues a vibrant call to act together for peace, dignity, and prosperity in Haiti, the Caribbean, and for all humanity.