Haiti Timeline (1957- )

Timeline created by newsonline in History

Timeline Text view

Event Date:	Event Title:	Event Description:
10/22/1957	François Duvalier becomes president	The military is in control of Haiti when its favoured candidate, Dr. François "Papa Doc" Duvalier, wins the presidential election in September. VIDEO: Life and death in Duvalier's Haiti May 15, 1963 [26:59]
07/29/1958	Tonton Macoutes formed	Their official name was the National Security Volunteers (VSN), but they are better known as the Tonton Macoutes (Tontons Makout), which roughly translates as "bogeymen." Clément Barbot was their first chief. Duvalier creates the VSN after a failed coup attempt.
07/14/1963	Clément Barbot killed	Duvalier turns on his chief henchman, Clément Barbot, and throws him in jail. After his release in April 1963, Barbot sets out to get even. There was a belief that Barbot could escape Duvalier's men by turning himself into a black dog, so it is said that Duvalier ordered that all black dogs be shot.
06/22/1964	François Duvalier becomes "President for Life"	Duvalier has Haiti's constitution rewritten so that he can stay in office for life. After a referendum on the new constitution, Duvalier is officially named "President for Life."
04/22/1971	Jean-Claude Duvalier succeeds his father	Jean-Claude Duvalier, then 19, takes over as president a day after the death of his father, François Duvalier. Transparency International estimates that while in office, 'Baby Doc' embezzled between $300 million US and $800 million US.
03/09/1983	Pope John Paul II arrives in Haiti	John Paul II is the first Pope to visit the country. During an outdoor mass at Port-au-Prince's airport, he tells Duvalier and the Haitian elite that they have a "serious and urgent responsibility with respect to their brothers and sisters." He also publicly endorses the slogan of the country's Eucharistic Congress: "Something must change here."
02/07/1986	'Baby Doc' Duvalier flees Haiti	The Duvalier family leaves Haiti on a U.S. cargo plane after riots break out across the country. A national council of civilian and military leaders takes control, with Gen. Henri Namphy as president. Exiled Haiti ruler can reclaim $4.6M: Swiss court (Feb. 3, 2010)
11/29/1987	Election day massacre	After a very bloody campaign, elections are held but later suspended by the military. On voting day, at least 22 voters are shot dead and 67 wounded, mostly at polling stations. The military and Tontons Makout are believed to be responsible for the shootings.
01/17/1988	"Elections" in Haiti	Less than 10 per cent of voters turn out for a military-sponsored election, the first in Haiti since the Duvalier era. The winner, Leslie-François Manigat, is deposed in a military coup five months later. Namphy declares himself head of a military government and abolishes the 1987 constitution.
12/16/1990	Jean-Bertrand Aristide elected	Jean-Bertrand Aristide wins a landslide presidential victory in internationally supervised elections, taking 67 per cent of the votes.
09/30/1991	Military coup overthrows Aristide	A military coup sends Aristide into exile, eventually in the U.S.
09/03/1994	Military regime steps down	Faced with the threat of a U.S. invasion, the military regime agrees to hand over power to Aristide, and the United Nations lifts sanctions against Haiti's military rulers. The U.S. then sends in troops to occupy Haiti, sanctioned by the UN.
10/15/1994	Jean-Bertrand Aristide returns to Haiti	Three years after he was overthrown, Aristide returns from exile to resume his presidency. VIDEO: Battling poverty in Port-Au-Prince (Oct. 9, 1994)
06/03/1995	Lavalas coalition wins parliamentary elections	The Lavalas Platform, a three-party coalition endorsed by Aristide, is victorious in general elections. International observers report violations of election procedures, including unopened ballots, poor ballot distribution and lack of information for voters.
12/17/1995	René Préval wins election	Aristide's hand-picked successor, René Préval, is elected president. Haiti's government soon lapses into disarray as a divided legislature is unable to approve government budgets or authorize distribution of foreign aid.
11/26/2000	Aristide wins election	Aristide is elected president for the second time, and his Lavalas Platform wins a majority of seats in both legislative houses. The international community questions fairness of elections and opposition parties boycott them. Aristide wins overwhelming majority in Haiti vote Voting ends, counting begins in Haiti.
02/07/2001	Aristide inaugurated president	Aristide is sworn in as president; his political rivals deny the legitimacy of his government and continue to demand new elections. Amnesty International says human rights and the rule of law has diminished in Haiti, citing harassment of opposition politicians and attacks on journalists. Haiti tense on presidential inauguration day
12/17/2001	Coup attempt against Aristide fails	Heavily armed assailants seize the National Palace in the early hours. According to a report from the Organization of American States, they announced that "Aristide was no longer president and that Guy Philippe (photo) was the new commander." The coup, in which about five people died, is put down in a matter of hours.Aristide unhurt in attempted coup
01/01/2004	200th anniversary of Haiti's independence	Haiti marks the 200th anniversary of its independence from France; supporters and opponents of Aristide stage demonstrations. Political division marks Haiti's bicentennial
01/14/2004	Aristide announces parliamentary elections	Aristide, facing violent street protests and charges of corruption from the opposition, announces that parliamentary elections will be held within six months.Aristide's plan for parliamentary elections criticized
02/09/2004	Rebels take control of major centres	Four days of rioting cause as many as 40 deaths and widespread looting. Pressure is put on Aristide to resign. Aristide says he will serve out his term, which runs until 2006. The opposition is accused of mounting a coup to overthrow Aristide. Dozens of people are killed in riots in Gonaïves, St. Marc and Grand Goâve, where rebels set fires and block roads.
02/23/2004	50 U.S. marines land in Haiti	Rebels capture Cap-Haïtien, the country's second-largest city. About 50 U.S. marines land in Haiti to protect the U.S. Embassy and other U.S. facilities. U.S. marines land in Haiti Coup d'état in motion, Haiti's PM warns Canada kicks in $1 million for Haiti
02/25/2004	Opposition rejects peace plan	Haiti's political opposition rejects an international peace plan. France blames Aristide for Haiti chaos Haiti's democratic opposition rejects peace plan Haiti's Aristide asks the world for help
02/29/2004	Aristide goes into exile again	Aristide resigns the presidency and flees Haiti as rebels approach the capital. The United Nations Security Council unanimously approves a multinational military force to restore order in the country. Aristide leaves office, flees Haiti UN backs U.S.-led force in Haiti
03/01/2004	Aristide accuses US of forcing him out	Jean-Bertrand Aristide, from exile in the Central African Republic, accuses the U.S. of forcing him out of office in a coup d'état. French troops arrive in Port-au-Prince as part of the UN-approved international force. Rebel forces enter the capital and its suburbs. Troops begin to restore order in Haiti The crisis in Haiti: Roots of revolution
03/02/2004	Rebel leader Guy Philippe declares himself military chief	Rebel leader Guy Philippe says he wants to rebuild and lead Haiti's military.Haitian rebel leader declares himself military chief PHOTO GALLERY: Anarchy in Port-au-Prince, by Stephen Puddicombe
03/05/2004	Canada decides to send troops to Haiti	Canada decides to send 425 troops to Haiti for a 90-day mission. The force includes three infantry platoons, six helicopters and members of India Company. They will help patrol, provide humanitarian assistance, assist police and provide protection. Canada to send more soldiers to Haiti Haitian rebels to lay down arms
05/24/2004	Floods claim 1400 lives	Two rivers on the border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti burst their banks because of torrential rains, causing floods that kill about 1,400 people in the two countries. Death toll raised in Dominican Republic, Haiti flooding Food, supplies shipped to Haiti aid effort
06/01/2004	UN takes over security in Haiti	The UN assumes responsibility for security in Haiti, forming a force of 8,000 army troops and police from 30 countries, to be led by Brazilian Gen. Augusto Heleno Ribeiro. UN peacekeeping force arrives in flood-ravaged Haiti
07/06/2004	Canada sends 100 police officers to Haiti	Prime Minister Paul Martin announces that 100 Canadian police officers, mostly from the RCMP, will be stationed in Haiti for two years. Canada sends 100 police to Haiti
08/16/2004	Last Canadian troops leave Haiti	The last contingent of Canadian troops, 82 soldiers from CFB Gagetown, N.B., and CFB Trenton, Ont., returns from Haiti. A handful of Canadian soldiers remains in Haiti to oversee the shipment of heavy equipment back to Canada.
09/16/2004	Hurricane Jeanne claims more than 3,000 lives	Hurricane Jeanne strikes Haiti, causing flooding and mudslides in the northwest of the country, especially Gonaïves. Tensions mount in aftermath of Jeanne More than 1,000 dead in Haiti PHOTO GALLERY: Haiti floods PHOTO GALLERY: After the hurricane (Stephen Puddicombe)
12/14/2004	UN peacekeepers swarm Cité Soleil	Hundreds of UN peacekeepers swarm the Port-au-Prince slum of Cité Soleil in an attempt to re-establish law and order. The actions take place just days after interim prime minister Gérard Latortue (photo) met with Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin in Montreal. UN peacekeepers invade Haiti slum Canada to help rebuild Haiti's judicial system
07/06/2005	Hurricane Dennis strikes Haiti	Hurricane Dennis strikes Haiti, causing at least 56 deaths and leaving 1,500 families homeless. The same day a military operation by UN troops in Cité Soleil claims about 26 lives.Haiti, Cuba tally hurricane deaths Photo Gallery: Dennis in Florida
10/19/2005	Hurricane Wilma kills at least 12 in Haiti	Hurricane Wilma, the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin, leads to at least 12 deaths in Haiti. Storm kills 10 before folding into Wilma Wilma could grow into 'major' hurricane Wilma helps 2005 storm season tie record
02/07/2006	René Préval wins presidential election	After four postponements, Haitians vote in the first presidential elections in six years. It will take more than a week to determine the outcome: René Préval is elected president for the second time.Préval declared winner in Haiti Key Players (Indepth: Haiti) PHOTO GALLERY: Election Week
02/22/2006	Préval says he will end the exile of former president Aristide	Haiti's president-elect, René Préval, says he's ready to end the exile of former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Aristide was forced to flee after a violent rebellion and says he's ready to come out of exile. Préval was once a protégé of Aristide.Haiti's Préval ready to welcome Aristide back home Jean-Bertrand Aristide (Indepth: Haiti)
05/13/2006	Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean begins visit to Haiti	Canadian Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean begins a four-day visit to Haiti, the country of her birth. She attends the inauguration of president-elect René Préval. Governor General visits Haiti PHOTO GALLERY: Governor General in Haiti
05/14/2006	René Préval is sworn in as president of Haiti	Two months after his election – and two years after the ouster of Jean-Bertrand Aristide – René Préval is sworn in as president of Haiti. It is the second time Préval holds the office.Haitian president calls for peace as 4,500 troops patrol the streets
12/22/2006	UN military incursion into Cité Soleil results in many deaths	Responding to international pressure, Préval agrees to an assault on Cité Soleil by UN troops. About 20 people are killed. More military incursions take place in the Port-au-Prince slum over the following months. At least 5 dead as UN moves against Haitian gangs
04/12/2008	Food riots in Haiti	The Haitian senate dismisses Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis after more than a week of demonstrations over rising food prices. UN soldier killed in Haiti: Senate ousts PM over handling of food crisis AUDIO: The Current's Anna Maria Tremonti interviews journalist Guyler Delva and analyst Peter Hallward (April 15)
08/16/2008	Tropical Storm Fay leaves at least 18 dead in Haiti	Tropical Storm Fay lashes Haiti and the Dominican Republic with torrential rains and floods that kill at least 10 people in Haiti. Tropical storm Fay bears down on Cuba, Florida Keys
08/26/2008	Hurricane Gustav hits Haiti	Hurricane Gustav triggers floods and landslides that kill 59 people in Haiti. Gustav claims 67 lives in Haiti and Dominican 1 dead as Hurricane Gustav slams Haiti
09/02/2008	Hurricane Hanna leaves 529 dead in Haiti	Hurricane Hanna drenches flood-plagued Haiti, leaving behind at least 529 dead. Families in Gonaïves scramble onto rooftops and scream for help as UN peacekeepers and rescue convoys try in vain to reach the city. Storm's impact on Haiti 'bad as it can be': UN
09/05/2008	Michèle Pierre-Louis becomes prime minister	Michèle Pierre-Louis becomes Haiti's prime minister. Her nomination is ratified by the Senate July 31, ending more than three months of political bickering and deadlock in parliament. Haitian lawmakers ratify PM, end deadlock
09/07/2008	Hurricane Ike adds to Haiti's woes	Hurricane Ike brings more flooding. In three weeks, four storms kill 793 people.Ike rips into eastern Cuba; on track for Havana Haiti faces long recovery from Ike, says singer Wyclef Jean Canadian government boosts relief aid to storm PHOTO GALLERY: Tracking Ike
09/26/2008	René Préval tells UN about the devastation in Haiti	President René Préval tells the UN General Assembly that his country requires long-term reconstruction efforts, beyond immediate food and disaster relief. "We have to break this paradigm of charity in our approach to international co-operation … because charity has never helped any country to get out of underdevelopment," he says. Haiti needs long-term help after storms, says UN official Haiti's food crisis deepens after floods
11/07/2008	School collapses in Pétionville with children inside	The collapse of La Promesse Collège Évangélique in the Port-au-Prince suburb of Pétionville kills at least 94 children and teachers. The preacher who owned and built the school is arrested Nov. 8 and charged with involuntary manslaughter.More survivors under collapsed Haiti school Owner of collapsed Haiti school arrested 2nd school collapses in Haiti
11/30/2008	Gay march in Haiti	About 500 demonstrators march through St. Marc in western Haiti in what organizers call the Caribbean nation's first openly gay march. A dozen men wear T-shirts declaring "I am gay" and "I am living with HIV/AIDS." HIV programs have helped decrease Haiti's infection rate by two-thirds in the last decade. (Associated Press photo)
04/19/2009	Very low turnout for first round of Senate elections	Few voters turn out for Senate elections in which candidates from former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's Fanmi Lavalas party are not allowed to run. "In Haiti clear-plastic ballot boxes were nearly as empty as Port-au-Prince's unusually deserted streets ," the Associated Press reports.UN delegation praises Haitian party's fight to run Senate candidates (March 14)
05/19/2009	Bill Clinton named UN special envoy to Haiti	UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announces that former U.S. president Bill Clinton has been appointed the UN envoy to Haiti. Clinton named UN envoy to Haiti Haiti needs more foreign aid: Moon, Clinton (March 9)
06/21/2009	Run-off elections for Senate, low turnout again	Voters again stay away from the second round of Senate elections despite government efforts to improve the low voter turnout of the first round.
07/02/2009	Canada cancels Haiti's $2.3M debt	Canada forgives $2.3 million in debt owed by Haiti as part of a plan that aims to relieve the world's poorest countries of $1.3 billion in debt. Canada cancels Haiti's $2.3M debt VIDEO: Haiti struggles to rebuild. (Claude Adams reports, Oct. 11, 2009)
10/30/2009	Jean-Max Bellerive to replace Pierre-Louis as prime minister	Haiti's Senate removes Prime Minister Michèle Pierre-Louis from office. President René Préval names Jean-Max Bellerive as his choice for PM. Bellerive takes office Nov.11. Haitian prime minister removed by Senate Un nouveau premier ministre
01/12/2010	A devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake hits Haiti	A 7.0 magnitude earthquake, whose epicentre is 25 km west of Port-au-Prince, hits at 4:53 p.m. ET. FULL COVERAGE: Haiti earthquake
03/31/2010	International Donors' Conference	At the UN the International Donors' Conference Towards a New Future for Haiti raises $10 billion in pledges. Donors' Conference: The next challenge in Haiti
10/21/2010	Cholera outbreak	In October an outbreak of cholera began in the Artibonite region of Haiti and soon spread throughout the country. By Oct. 21 tests had confirmed to health professionals it was cholera. Cholera outbreak kills 194 in Haiti
11/28/2010	Presidential elections	The first round of Haiti's presidential elections took place amidst controversy. Turnout was very low, with Mirlande Manigat emerging as the first round leader. Haitians protest election results
01/16/2011	'Baby Doc' Duvalier returns to Haiti	Former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude (Baby Doc) Duvalier returned to Haiti from France, 25 years after he fled. 'Baby Doc' to explain return to Haiti: wife