Haiti: Me Jean Renel Sénatus Files Complaint After Université Soleil Fire
By La Rédaction · Port-au-Prince · · 3 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
Following the arson that occurred on the night of November 1st, which completely ravaged Haiti's Université Soleil (USH), Me Jean Renel Sénatus, former senator and chairman of the institution's board, filed a formal complaint on November 5, 2025, with the Court of First Instance in Port-au-Prince. The objective: to obtain the immediate opening of a criminal investigation against the perpetrators and accomplices of this act, which he describes as “barbarism against national education,” while also implicating the Haitian state for its lack of protection in the face of rising violence.
A Complaint Against X, With the State in the Crosshairs
Me Sénatus insists on the role the state must play to guarantee the security of educational institutions. « We are filing a complaint against X, and against the state which failed to protect our establishments. Intelligence funds are wasted, and the security of our universities is compromised », he declared to the press.
The dean of the Court of First Instance in Port-au-Prince, Bernard Saint-Vil, assured that an investigating judge would soon be appointed, while the government commissioner, Me Fritz Patterson Dorval, promised rigorous follow-up of the case « until the conviction of the guilty parties within a reasonable timeframe ».
Leads Towards Armed Groups
Although the complaint is filed against X, some information suggests the possible involvement of members of the armed coalition “Viv Ansanm,” already active in several neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince.
Witnesses reportedly saw armed men on motorcycles entering the university premises shortly before the fire. Threats also reportedly targeted Radio Émancipation FM, which shared premises with the institution and often adopted a critical tone towards this criminal coalition. The University, Reduced to Ashes Founded in 2013 by former senator Jean Renel Sénatus and located on Rue O, Haiti's Université Soleil is now nothing more than a field of ruins. Its classrooms, library, archives, and even its radio studios have been entirely reduced to ashes, plunging hundreds of students into uncertainty and dealing another severe blow to an already fragile educational system. The institution had between 600 and 700 students and approximately 80 staff members, including both teaching and administrative personnel. The fire, which residents tried in vain to stop before the late arrival of emergency services, fortunately caused no casualties, but the impact on youth education is immense. Between Skepticism and Will to Resist In a context where the Haitian judicial system struggles to function, the chances of the complaint succeeding seem limited. Observers highlight classic obstacles: a shortage of judges, political pressure, lack of technical resources, and administrative delays. Nevertheless, Me Sénatus emphasizes the symbolic importance of the action:
« We refuse to normalize impunity. Université Soleil will continue to demand truth and reparation. »
He also posted a message of resilience on social media: « They burned our walls, not our ideas. You don't burn the Sun. » A Symbol of the Fragility of the Educational System The fire at Université Soleil illustrates the vulnerability of spaces of knowledge in Haiti. Several other universities in Port-au-Prince have already been forced to close or relocate under the threat of armed groups. For teachers and students, the attack is more than just a news item: it is a brutal reminder that violence can strike at the heart of education. The rectorate announced that academic activities would quickly resume in a temporary location pending the reconstruction of the campus, so as not to interrupt the students' progress. This fire goes beyond a simple material disaster. The complaint filed by Me Jean Renel Sénatus is a symbolic act of resistance, calling on Haitian justice and the state to protect educational institutions and put an end to the impunity that undermines the country. The Editorial Staff
Witnesses reportedly saw armed men on motorcycles entering the university premises shortly before the fire. Threats also reportedly targeted Radio Émancipation FM, which shared premises with the institution and often adopted a critical tone towards this criminal coalition. The University, Reduced to Ashes Founded in 2013 by former senator Jean Renel Sénatus and located on Rue O, Haiti's Université Soleil is now nothing more than a field of ruins. Its classrooms, library, archives, and even its radio studios have been entirely reduced to ashes, plunging hundreds of students into uncertainty and dealing another severe blow to an already fragile educational system. The institution had between 600 and 700 students and approximately 80 staff members, including both teaching and administrative personnel. The fire, which residents tried in vain to stop before the late arrival of emergency services, fortunately caused no casualties, but the impact on youth education is immense. Between Skepticism and Will to Resist In a context where the Haitian judicial system struggles to function, the chances of the complaint succeeding seem limited. Observers highlight classic obstacles: a shortage of judges, political pressure, lack of technical resources, and administrative delays. Nevertheless, Me Sénatus emphasizes the symbolic importance of the action:
« We refuse to normalize impunity. Université Soleil will continue to demand truth and reparation. »
He also posted a message of resilience on social media: « They burned our walls, not our ideas. You don't burn the Sun. » A Symbol of the Fragility of the Educational System The fire at Université Soleil illustrates the vulnerability of spaces of knowledge in Haiti. Several other universities in Port-au-Prince have already been forced to close or relocate under the threat of armed groups. For teachers and students, the attack is more than just a news item: it is a brutal reminder that violence can strike at the heart of education. The rectorate announced that academic activities would quickly resume in a temporary location pending the reconstruction of the campus, so as not to interrupt the students' progress. This fire goes beyond a simple material disaster. The complaint filed by Me Jean Renel Sénatus is a symbolic act of resistance, calling on Haitian justice and the state to protect educational institutions and put an end to the impunity that undermines the country. The Editorial Staff
