2021 in Haiti explained

See also: 2021 in the Caribbean.

Events in the year 2021 in Haiti.

Incumbents

• President:
  • until 7 July: Jovenel Moise
  • 7 July-20 July: Claude Joseph (acting)
  • starting 20 July: Ariel Henry (acting)
• Prime Minister:
  • until 14 April: Joseph Jouthe
  • 14 April-20 July: Claude Joseph (acting)
  • starting 20 July: Ariel Henry (acting)

Events

Ongoing – COVID-19 pandemic in Haiti

January to March

• January 14 – Hundreds demonstrate in Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien, Jacmel, Saint-Marc, and Gonaïves against President Jovenel Moïse. Most of the demonstrations are peaceful, but some violence is reported.^[1]
• February 1 – President Jovenel Moïse says he will stay on until February 22 and urges people to support proposed Constitutional amendments. Opposition leaders step up demands he step down and a transportation strike cripples the country.^[2]
• February 7 – Justice Minister Rockefeller Vincent say that a planned assassination of Moïse and an attempted coup d'état were frustrated. Twenty-three are arrested.^[3]
• February 8 – Judge Joseph Mécène Jean-Louis, 72, is named to lead the opposition to Moïse.^[4]
• February 10 – Police use tear gas and shoot into the air to disperse a rock-throwing crowd of protesters. Twenty-three people are arrested and two journalists are injured during the incident. Protesters shout, "We are back to dictatorship! Down with Moise! Down with Sison," a reference to the U.S. Ambassador, Michele J. Sison, who supports Moïse.^[5]
• February 25 – At least 25 dead and many injured during a prison break at Croix-des-Bouquets Civil Prison, during which notorious gang leader Arnel Joseph escaped.^{[6] [7]} Joseph is later found and killed in L'Estère.^{[8] [9]}
• February 28 – Thousands wave tree branches and flags in protests against kidnappings and Moïse.^[10]
• March 2 – Haitian-born former U.S. marine Jacques Duroseau is sentenced to five years of prison for smuggling guns to Haiti in 2019.^[11]
• March 5 – Lissner Mathieu ("Ti-Nwa"), a U.S. national, and Peterson Benjamin ("Ti Peter Vilaj"), a Haitian national, are extradited to the United States. Mathieu, 55, is accused on drug charges, and Benjamin, a leader of the Village de Dieu gang, faces kidnapping charges.^[12]
• March 24 – The Supreme Court orders the release of those accused of plotting a coup d'état.^[13]
• March 28 – Thousands take to the streets in Port-au-Prince and other cities to reject a proposed referendum to introduce a new constitution.^{[14] [15]}

April to June

• April 2 – Fighting in Bel Air leads to the burning of houses and at least three deaths. Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier, pro-government leader of the ″G-9 and Family and Allies coalition″ accepts responsibility for the attacks.^[16]
• June 8 – Haiti advances to the second round in FIFA World Cup qualifying by defeating Nicaragua (2-1) at Port-au-Prince.^[17]

July to September

• July 7 – Assassination of Jovenel Moïse
• August 14 - 2021 Haiti earthquake kills 2,248 people.

October to December

• November 12 - Amid escalating turmoil, protests over fuel price hike and gang violence, the US and Canada urge their citizens to leave Haiti.^[18]
• December 6 - Three of 17 missionaries who were kidnapped by a street gang in October are released.^[19]
• December 14 - Cap-Haïtien fuel tanker explosion
• December 16 - The remaining missionaries who were kidnapped by a street gang in October are released.^[20]

Scheduled events

Elections

• TBA – 2021 Haitian parliamentary election

Holidays

See main article: Public holidays in Haiti.

• January 1 – New Year's Day and Independence Day, celebrating 217 years since the signing of the Haitian Declaration of Independence.^[21]
• January 2 – Ancestry Day, honors those who fought for independence.^[21]
• February 16 – Haitian Carnival and Mardi Gras.^[21]
• October 17 – Dessalines Day, commemorating 215 years since the death of Haiti's first leader.^[21]
• November 1–2 — All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day are celebrated in both the Christian and Haitian Vodou religion.^[21]

Sports

• July – 2020–21 Ligue Haïtienne, season ends.^[22]

Deaths

• 4 February – Pierre-Antoine Paulo, 76, Roman Catholic prelate, Coadjutor Bishop (2001–2008) and Bishop (2008–2020) of Port-de-Paix.^[23]
• 7 July – Jovenel Moïse, 53, President of Haiti (2017–2021)

See also

• 2021 in the Caribbean
• 2020s
• 2021 Atlantic hurricane season

External links

• EXPLAINER: Why Haiti's political strife has worsened (Associated Press, February 8, 2021)

Notes and References

1. News: Sanon . Evens . Coto . Dánica . Haiti braces for unrest as opposition demands new president . January 15, 2021 . . January 14, 2021 .
2. News: Sanon . Evens . Haiti leader speaks of more power for diaspora amid strife . February 2, 2021 . . February 1, 2021 .
3. News: Crisis en Haití: el Gobierno aseguró haber frustrado un intento de golpe de Estado . February 7, 2021 . infobae . February 7, 2021 . es-ES . February 8, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210208001104/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2021/02/07/crisis-en-haiti-el-gobierno-aseguro-haber-frustrado-un-intento-de-golpe-de-estado/ . live .
4. News: Haiti opposition names interim leader as presidency fight rages . February 8, 2021 . . . February 8, 2021 . March 4, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210304131807/https://www.rfi.fr/en/haiti-opposition-names-interim-leader-as-presidency-fight-rages . live .
5. News: Paultre . Andre . Haitian protesters, police clash after president moves against top judges . February 11, 2021 . . February 10, 2021 .
6. News: Sanon . Evens . 7 dead, 1 injured after prison outbreak in Haiti's capital . February 25, 2021 . . February 25, 2021 .
7. News: Several dead as gang leader escapes in Haiti prison break . . One of Haiti's most powerful gang leaders, Arnel Joseph, escaped from a prison in the outskirts of the capital Port-au-Prince during a riot that left several people dead, authorities told local media. . February 26, 2021 . February 26, 2021 . February 26, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210226145738/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/26/several-dead-as-gang-leader-escapes-in-haiti-prison-break . live .
8. News: Prison director and gang leader among 25 killed in Haitian jailbreak. Associated Press. The Guardian. 27 February 2021. 27 February 2021. 27 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210227063526/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/27/prison-director-and-gang-leader-among-25-killed-in-haitian-jailbreak. live.
9. News: Sanon . Evens . Officials: 400 escape, 25 dead after Haiti prison breakout . February 26, 2021 . . February 26, 2021 .
10. News: Charles . Jacqueline . Thousands march against Moïse, kidnappings and U.N. in Haiti during large protest . March 1, 2021 . . February 28, 2021.
11. News: Shaffer . Josh . Fowler . Hayley . NC Marine smuggled guns to his native Haiti. Now he'll spend 5 years in prison. . March 2, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . The State . March 2, 2021.
12. News: Charles . Jacqueline . US fugitive, suspected gang member tied to kidnappings in custody after arrests in Haiti . March 6, 2021 . March 6, 2021 . . May 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210503181057/https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article249711178.html . live .
13. News: Haiti court orders release of those accused in alleged coup . March 24, 2021 . . March 24, 2021 . May 1, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210501223424/https://apnews.com/article/haiti-latin-america-d48f8580297f904f9400e5b810d998b8. live .
14. News: Charles . Jacqueline . Haitians march in favor of constitution as it turns 34 and president seeks overhaul . March 29, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . Miami Herald . March 28, 2021 . November 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211125122247/https://www.yahoo.com/news/haitians-march-favor-constitution-turns-201736502.html . live .
15. Web site: Anadolu Agency. 2021-11-25. Anadolu Agency. 2021-11-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20211125122256/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/pg/photo-gallery/protest-against-president-moise-in-haiti. live.
16. News: Gang attack in Haiti neighborhood leaves bodies, homes charred . April 3, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . Miami Herald . April 2, 2021 . April 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210403002458/https://www.yahoo.com/news/gang-attack-haiti-neighborhood-leaves-234420418.html . live .
17. News: Haiti advances to 2nd round in World Cup qualifying . . www.beloitdailynews.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210609004356/https://www.beloitdailynews.com/sports/haiti-advances-to-2nd-round-in-world-cup-qualifying/article_0d443679-0d50-5a23-b488-5d8472c98d11.html . 2021-06-09 .
18. News: Archived copy . 2021-11-12 . 2021-11-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211125122253/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/canada-u-s-haiti-warnings-1.6246484 . live .
19. News: Haiti kidnapping: Christian Aid Ministries says three 400 Mawozo hostages released . The Washington Post . 2021-12-06 . 2022-06-08.
20. Web site: All from US missionary group freed in Haiti, police say. AP Staff. apnews.com. December 16, 2021. December 16, 2021.
21. Web site: Independence Day in Haiti in 2022 . Office Holidays . January 15, 2021 . en . January 1, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210101104530/https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/haiti/haiti-independence-day . live .
22. Web site: Haiti Ligue Haïtienne 2020/2021 Fixtures, Results, Live Odds, Head to Head H2H Statistics - SoccerPunter . soccerpunter.com . Soccer Punter . January 15, 2021 . November 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211125122251/https://www.soccerpunter.com/season/17385/Haiti-Ligue-Haitienne-2020-2021 . live .
23. Web site: Haiti Press Network - Haïti-Nécrologie: Décès ce jeudi, de l'Évêque Émérite de Port-de-Paix, Mgr Pierre Antoine PAULO, à 76 ans. 2021-11-25. www.hpnhaiti.com. 2021-11-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20211125122253/http://www.hpnhaiti.com/nouvelles/index.php/societe/8894-haiti-necrologie-deces-ce-jeudi-de-l-eveque-emerite-de-port-de-paix-mgr-pierre-antoine-paulo-a-76-ans. live.