September 1988 Haitian coup d'état
Encyclopedia
The September 1988 Haitian coup d'état took place on 17 September 1988, when a group of non-commissioned officers in the Haiti
an Presidential Guard overthrew General Henri Namphy
, and brought General Prosper Avril
to power. Namphy had been a member of the National Council of Government
from 1986 until the February 1988 inauguration of Leslie Manigat
, who had won the military-controlled Haitian presidential election, 1988
. Namphy had overthrown Manigat in the June 1988 Haitian coup d'état
when Manigat sought to exercise his constitutional right to control military assignments.
The St Jean Bosco massacre
on 11 September, attributed to former Tonton Macoute
, contributed to the September coup, particularly after Namphy failed to condemn it and six participants were allowed to appear on national television the following day and issue further threats. As the IACHR
put it, "Many people were outraged that these individuals could appear on television, without any disguise, confess their participation in these events and threaten future criminal acts with no fear of being arrested by the authorities." In addition, there were fears that the massacre could be the beginning of the re-emergence of the Tonton Macoute
and potentially eclipse the army.
Avril had been removed from the National Council of Government
in 1986 following demonstrations protesting his links to the previous regime of Jean-Claude Duvalier
. The September coup brought him to the Presidency, and he remained there as head of a military regime until March 1990.
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 Presidential Guard overthrew General Henri Namphy
Henri Namphy
Henri Namphy was a Haitian 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...
, and brought 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...
to power. Namphy had been a member of 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 1986 until the February 1988 inauguration of 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:...
, who had won the military-controlled Haitian presidential election, 1988
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...
. Namphy had overthrown Manigat 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....
when Manigat sought to exercise his constitutional right to control military assignments.
The St Jean Bosco massacre
St Jean Bosco massacre
The St Jean Bosco massacre took place in Haiti on 11 September 1988. At least 13 people were killed and around 80 wounded in a three-hour assault on the Saint-Jean Bosco church in Port-au-Prince, which saw the church burned down...
on 11 September, attributed to former Tonton Macoute
Tonton Macoute
Tonton Macoutes was a Haitian paramilitary force created in 1959 by President François 'Papa Doc' Duvalier. In 1970, the militia was officially renamed the Milice de Volontaires de la Sécurité Nationale .Haitians called this force the “Tonton Macoutes,” after the Haitian Creole mythological...
, contributed to the September coup, particularly after Namphy failed to condemn it and six participants were allowed to appear on national television the following day and issue further threats. As the IACHR
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is an autonomous organ of the Organization of American States .Along with the...
put it, "Many people were outraged that these individuals could appear on television, without any disguise, confess their participation in these events and threaten future criminal acts with no fear of being arrested by the authorities." In addition, there were fears that the massacre could be the beginning of the re-emergence of the Tonton Macoute
Tonton Macoute
Tonton Macoutes was a Haitian paramilitary force created in 1959 by President François 'Papa Doc' Duvalier. In 1970, the militia was officially renamed the Milice de Volontaires de la Sécurité Nationale .Haitians called this force the “Tonton Macoutes,” after the Haitian Creole mythological...
and potentially eclipse the army.
"In a brief prepared statement read in the name of the Presidential Guard at 2 a.m. Sunday morning, Sgt. Joseph Heubreux explained the coup as an attempt by non-commissioned officers to restore honor to Haiti's Armed Forces and to end a period of random violence and confusion in the army chain of command under General Namphy. Sgt. Heubreux introduced the new head of state, Prosper Avril, as "the most honest officer" in the Haitian Armed forces. Lt. Gen. Prosper Avril stated that he accepted the nomination as President to "save the country from anarchy and chaos".
Avril had been removed from 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,...
in 1986 following demonstrations protesting his links to the previous regime of 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...
. The September coup brought him to the Presidency, and he remained there as head of a military regime until March 1990.