Henri Namphy
Encyclopedia
Henri Namphy was a Haiti
an general
and political figure. He served as President
of Haiti's interim ruling body, the National Council of Government
, from 7 February 1986 to 7 February 1988. He served as President of Haiti
from 20 June 1988 until his deposition on 17 September 1988 in the September 1988 Haitian coup d'état
.
Following the fall of the government headed by President-for-Life Jean-Claude Duvalier
, who fled the country with his family in 1986, Lieutenant General Namphy became president of the interim governing council, made up of six civilian and military members, which promised elections and democratic reforms. His regime was given the moniker “duvalierism without Duvalier”.
Namphy, who enjoyed a reputation for being honest and apolitical, had trouble in his early weeks in power; Haitians ceased their celebrations over the departure of Duvalier and started rioting and looting
. In March 1986, as violence swept the capital, Port-au-Prince
, the popular justice minister resigned from the ruling council and Namphy dismissed three other members who had close ties with the Duvalier regime. The new council had two other members apart from Namphy. The council had difficulty in exerting its authority because of frequent strikes and demonstrations.
An election held in October for a constituent assembly to prepare a draft constitution
reflected a lack of public interest in determining the country's political future. The first attempt at elections, in November 1987
, ended when some three dozen voters were massacred. In January 1988 Leslie Manigat
won an election
that was widely considered fraudulent, and Namphy overthrew him on June 20 in the June 1988 Haitian coup d'état
after Manigat had dismissed Namphy as army commander. Namphy remained in power until September 17, 1988, when he was deposed by a group of young officers organized by General Prosper Avril
, in the September 1988 Haitian coup d'état
.
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
an general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
and political figure. He served as President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Haiti's interim ruling body, the National Council of Government
National Council of Government
The National Council of Government was the ruling body of Haiti from 1986 to 1988. The council was first established on February 7, 1986 as a joint military and civilian provisional government following the exile of President for Life Jean-Claude Duvalier. The council consisted of a President,...
, from 7 February 1986 to 7 February 1988. He served as President of Haiti
President of Haiti
The President of the Republic of Haiti is the head of state of Haiti. Executive power in Haiti is divided between the president and the government headed by the Prime Minister of Haiti...
from 20 June 1988 until his deposition on 17 September 1988 in the September 1988 Haitian coup d'état
September 1988 Haitian coup d'état
The September 1988 Haitian coup d'état took place on 17 September 1988, when a group of non-commissioned officers in the Haitian Presidential Guard overthrew General Henri Namphy, and brought General Prosper Avril to power...
.
Following the fall of the government headed by President-for-Life Jean-Claude Duvalier
Jean-Claude Duvalier
Jean-Claude Duvalier, nicknamed "Bébé Doc" or "Baby Doc" was the President of Haiti from 1971 until his overthrow by a popular uprising in 1986. He succeeded his father, François "Papa Doc" Duvalier, as the ruler of Haiti upon his father's death in 1971...
, who fled the country with his family in 1986, Lieutenant General Namphy became president of the interim governing council, made up of six civilian and military members, which promised elections and democratic reforms. His regime was given the moniker “duvalierism without Duvalier”.
Namphy, who enjoyed a reputation for being honest and apolitical, had trouble in his early weeks in power; Haitians ceased their celebrations over the departure of Duvalier and started rioting and looting
Looting
Looting —also referred to as sacking, plundering, despoiling, despoliation, and pillaging—is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe, such as during war, natural disaster, or rioting...
. In March 1986, as violence swept the capital, Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
, the popular justice minister resigned from the ruling council and Namphy dismissed three other members who had close ties with the Duvalier regime. The new council had two other members apart from Namphy. The council had difficulty in exerting its authority because of frequent strikes and demonstrations.
An election held in October for a constituent assembly to prepare a draft constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
reflected a lack of public interest in determining the country's political future. The first attempt at elections, in November 1987
Haitian presidential election, 1987
The 1987 Haitian presidential election took place on 29 November 1987. The election was cancelled after troops led by Service d'Intelligence National member Col Jean Claude Paul massacred 30 - 300 voters on election day. Jimmy Carter later wrote that "Citizens who lined up to vote were mowed down...
, ended when some three dozen voters were massacred. In January 1988 Leslie Manigat
Leslie Manigat
Leslie François Saint Roc Manigat was elected president of Haiti by a tightly controlled military held election in January 1988.-In education:...
won an election
Haitian presidential election, 1988
General elections were held in Haiti on 17 January 1988, after the Haitian presidential election, 1987 had been cancelled due to an election day massacre of voters either orchestrated or condoned by the Haitian military. The elections were boycotted by most candidates who had contested the previous...
that was widely considered fraudulent, and Namphy overthrew him on June 20 in the June 1988 Haitian coup d'état
June 1988 Haitian coup d'état
The June 1988 Haitian coup d'état took place on 20 June 1988, when Henri Namphy overthrew Leslie Manigat. Manigat, who won the military-controlled Haitian presidential election, 1988, had taken office on 7 February....
after Manigat had dismissed Namphy as army commander. Namphy remained in power until September 17, 1988, when he was deposed by a group of young officers organized by General Prosper Avril
Prosper Avril
Prosper Avril is a Haitian political figure who was President of Haiti from 1988 to 1990. A trusted member of François Duvalier's Presidential Guard and adviser to Jean-Claude Duvalier, Lt. Gen. Avril led the September 1988 Haitian coup d'état against a transition military government installed...
, in the September 1988 Haitian coup d'état
September 1988 Haitian coup d'état
The September 1988 Haitian coup d'état took place on 17 September 1988, when a group of non-commissioned officers in the Haitian Presidential Guard overthrew General Henri Namphy, and brought General Prosper Avril to power...
.