Haiti – Justice : 2026 Roadmap of the Haitian National Committee for Restitution and Reparation

Haiti – Justice : 2026 Roadmap of the Haitian National Committee for Restitution and Reparation
18/11/2025 09:53:17

The issue of the double ransom imposed on Haiti by France in the 19th century remains one of the most painful chapters in the nation’s history and constitutes a major challenge for historical justice and reparations. It is worth recalling that in 1825, France demanded that Haiti pay an indemnity of 150 million gold francs (later reduced to 90 million) in compensation for the loss of its colony and the colonists’ properties, a sum that the fledgling Republic had to borrow from French banks at usurious rates, hence the expression “double ransom”. This financial burden, repaid over more than a century, severely hampered Haiti’s economic, social, and institutional development.

In response to this historical and moral debt, the Haitian National Committee for Restitution and Reparations (CNHRR) was established by decree on August 8, 2025. It comprises a representative from the Presidency, a representative from the Prime Minister’s Office, a representative from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, five representatives from civil society, and twelve prominent figures from the academic and scientific communities of Haiti and abroad, tasked with presenting the legitimate demand for restitution and reparations to France and the international community.

On November 15 and 16, 2025, the members of the CNHRR convened for a working retreat to develop a coherent and ambitious action strategy. The 2026 Roadmap is the result of these two days of intensive discussions. It outlines a multidimensional action program that combines education, research, social mobilization, and diplomacy. This roadmap demonstrates a commitment to transforming this historical struggle into a genuine societal project involving the entire education system, the university community, civil society, and relevant regional and international bodies. It outlines the various activities and initiatives planned for 2026:

Roadmap 2026 :

1 – The National Committee for Restitution and Reparations (CNHRR) has adopted its annual action plan and established its working structures (its executive council and the eight working subgroups). Committee members have been divided into the various working subgroups, each addressing different aspects of the issue of restitution and reparations.

2 – The CNHRR will undertake advocacy and collaboration efforts with the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training to revise the curriculum and textbooks on Haitian history regarding the facts and events associated with Haiti’s double ransom to France. The CNHRR will also seek collaboration with the State University of Haiti (UEH) and other public higher education institutions to introduce questions on the double ransom into the General Knowledge section of the entrance exams for the various Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences.

3 – Throughout the year, the CNHRR will organize public information and awareness-raising activities through in-person public conferences and virtual webinars in the country’s various geographic departments. A national survey will be conducted in all municipalities across the country by a team of researchers from a UEH research laboratory to gather the views, opinions, and reflections of Haitian citizens from different segments of the population on the issue of the restitution of the double ransom.

4 – The CNHRR will facilitate master’s and doctoral level studies and research by awarding scholarships to the most relevant projects by Haitian students at universities in Haiti and abroad. This will enrich the scholarly literature on the issues of double ransom, memory, and reparations for slavery and colonization.

5 – The CNHRR will quickly establish organizing committees for two scientific conferences: one on “Memories of Slavery, Haitian Thought, and Reparations” (November 16-18, 2026) and the other on “Restitution, Reparations, and Public Health” (August 23-24, 2026), to coordinate efforts to reflect on these crucial issues.

6 – The CNHRR will coordinate the publication of the various arguments for the demand for restitution of the double ransom to France in the form of a “White Paper” later this year, making them public and accessible to all Haitian citizens.

7 – The CNHRR will establish the necessary collaborations with various institutions and experts for all actuarial and discounted calculations of the amounts for discussions and potential negotiations on restitution and reparations.

8 – The National Center for History and Reconciliation (CNHRR) will organize several study days in 2026 for students at Haitian universities to develop and disseminate relevant arguments and narratives on the issues of the memory of slavery, restitution of the double ransom, and reparations for the damages and wrongs of slavery and colonization. In this regard, the CNHRR will collaborate with certain institutions to organize literary competitions for graduating high school students and an Excellence Award for textbooks and books on Haitian history.

9 – On the recommendation of the CNHRR, the State University of Haiti (UEH) will establish a Research Chair on the issue of the double ransom during the first quarter of 2026. This chair will serve as a framework for high-level academic conferences and public lectures at the various UEH campuses in Port-au-Prince and other cities throughout the country.

10 – The CNHRR will develop a Communication and Social Mobilization Plan to raise awareness and involve various organized sectors of civil society and all segments of the Haitian population in the restitution and reparations process. Strategic partnerships and alliances will also be sought with certain grassroots organizations to create positive synergies in the fight for restitution and reparations.

11 – The CNHRR will strengthen its working relationships and collaboration with the CARICOM Reparations Commission and with various African, American, and European organizations to present a united front toward the broadest possible consensus. The CNHRR will continue to undertake all necessary steps to participate in and integrate networks and organizations that can create impactful momentum in the struggle for restitution and reparations.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45737-haiti-politic-official-inauguration-of-the-haitian-national-committee-for-restitution-and-reparation.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44717-haiti-price-of-independence-macron-takes-a-small-step-toward-recognizing-a-moral-debt-statement.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43878-haiti-flash-2025-roadmap-for-the-restitution-of-the-ransom-of-independence.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43456-haiti-retreat-restitution-of-france-s-debt-and-reparations.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-42728-icihaiti-ueh-restitution-of-the-independence-debt-by-france-monitoring.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42325-haiti-flash-the-ueh-will-work-on-the-restitution-by-france-of-the-independence-debt.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42185-haiti-flashin-geneva-haiti-calls-for-help-from-the-un-for-the-restitution-by-france-of-the-independence-debt.html

HL/ HaitiLibre