Haiti: Why the Country Has Deteriorated After Jovenel Moïse's Death, Despite His Opponents' Promises
, Journalist and Jurist. The brutal death of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021, was supposed, according to his opponents, to mark the end of an era of political deadlock and pave the way for national relief.
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
By Emmanuel Taulème BRINA
Journalist and Jurist The brutal death of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021, was supposed, according to his opponents, to mark the end of an era of political deadlock and pave the way for national relief. For months, even years, a segment of the political class and civil society asserted that the country could only breathe after his departure from power. Yet, it is clear that Haiti's situation has severely deteriorated since then, plunging the nation into one of the darkest periods of its recent history. Promises of Relief Quickly Contradicted by Facts Jovenel Moïse's adversaries maintained that his governance was the main obstacle to political stability, security, and national dialogue. According to them, his overthrow, or at the very least his departure, would restore confidence, revive institutions, and initiate profound reforms. However, after his assassination, no clear and consensual transition plan emerged. The institutional vacuum left by the absence of elections, the collapse of Parliament, and the weakness of the executive power exacerbated the chaos instead of appeasing it. The Collapse of the State and the Rise of Gangs Since 2021, the Haitian state has progressively receded in the face of armed groups. Gangs have extended their control over entire neighborhoods of the capital and strategic axes of the country, paralyzing the economy, commerce, and the movement of people. Contrary to promises of restoring order, the post-Jovenel Moïse period is marked by:
• generalized insecurity,
• mass kidnappings,
• forced displacement of populations,
• the inability of the police to regain control of the territory. This situation demonstrates that Haiti's problem was not limited to a single man, but to a fragile political system, riddled with power struggles, impunity, and a lack of national vision. An Opposition More United Against Jovenel Moïse Than For Governing One of the major paradoxes lies in the fact that the forces opposed to Jovenel Moïse were more united in fighting him than in governing after him. Once the objective was achieved, internal divisions, personal rivalries, and political calculations prevented the establishment of a common project. This fragmentation left the door open to instability, while the already suffering population found itself without protection or clear prospects. The Weight of Collective Responsibilities Attributing Haiti's current collapse solely to Jovenel Moïse would be a dangerous simplification. His governance was certainly criticized, but the current situation reveals a collective responsibility:
• that of political elites unable to transcend their interests,
• that of often silent economic actors,
• that of the international community, whose interventions lack coherence,
• and that of an institutional system weakened for decades. A Bitter Lesson for the Future The post-2021 experience shows a fundamental truth: overthrowing a leader is not enough to save a country. Without solid institutions, without an inclusive national project, and without respect for the rule of law, the promised change remains illusory. Today, Haiti is paying the price of a political illusion: that of believing that the fall of one man would automatically lead to the rebirth of a nation. Recent history proves that the real fight is not against a person, but against a deeply flawed system. Emmanuel Taulème BRINA
Journalist and Jurist
Journalist and Jurist The brutal death of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021, was supposed, according to his opponents, to mark the end of an era of political deadlock and pave the way for national relief. For months, even years, a segment of the political class and civil society asserted that the country could only breathe after his departure from power. Yet, it is clear that Haiti's situation has severely deteriorated since then, plunging the nation into one of the darkest periods of its recent history. Promises of Relief Quickly Contradicted by Facts Jovenel Moïse's adversaries maintained that his governance was the main obstacle to political stability, security, and national dialogue. According to them, his overthrow, or at the very least his departure, would restore confidence, revive institutions, and initiate profound reforms. However, after his assassination, no clear and consensual transition plan emerged. The institutional vacuum left by the absence of elections, the collapse of Parliament, and the weakness of the executive power exacerbated the chaos instead of appeasing it. The Collapse of the State and the Rise of Gangs Since 2021, the Haitian state has progressively receded in the face of armed groups. Gangs have extended their control over entire neighborhoods of the capital and strategic axes of the country, paralyzing the economy, commerce, and the movement of people. Contrary to promises of restoring order, the post-Jovenel Moïse period is marked by:
• generalized insecurity,
• mass kidnappings,
• forced displacement of populations,
• the inability of the police to regain control of the territory. This situation demonstrates that Haiti's problem was not limited to a single man, but to a fragile political system, riddled with power struggles, impunity, and a lack of national vision. An Opposition More United Against Jovenel Moïse Than For Governing One of the major paradoxes lies in the fact that the forces opposed to Jovenel Moïse were more united in fighting him than in governing after him. Once the objective was achieved, internal divisions, personal rivalries, and political calculations prevented the establishment of a common project. This fragmentation left the door open to instability, while the already suffering population found itself without protection or clear prospects. The Weight of Collective Responsibilities Attributing Haiti's current collapse solely to Jovenel Moïse would be a dangerous simplification. His governance was certainly criticized, but the current situation reveals a collective responsibility:
• that of political elites unable to transcend their interests,
• that of often silent economic actors,
• that of the international community, whose interventions lack coherence,
• and that of an institutional system weakened for decades. A Bitter Lesson for the Future The post-2021 experience shows a fundamental truth: overthrowing a leader is not enough to save a country. Without solid institutions, without an inclusive national project, and without respect for the rule of law, the promised change remains illusory. Today, Haiti is paying the price of a political illusion: that of believing that the fall of one man would automatically lead to the rebirth of a nation. Recent history proves that the real fight is not against a person, but against a deeply flawed system. Emmanuel Taulème BRINA
Journalist and Jurist
