Overseas Operations - UNMIH

United Nations Mission in Haiti

Conflict erupted in Haiti following the overthrow of the Duvalier dynasty which had ruled from 1957 to 1986. The Duvalier's brutal, exploitative regime, bolstered by a 50,000-strong private militia, the Ton-Ton Macoutes, had left Haiti's economy in ruins, making life intolerable for most of the six million residents. In the first successful democratic elections in 1990 Father Jean-Bertand Aristide, a left-wing radical priest, was elected president with 67% of the vote.

Haitian Army personnel, led by Lieutenant General Raoul Cedras, staged a coup and ousted Aristide. Human rights abuses soared, boosting a steady exodus of Haitians to the nearby United States.

UNMIH was established in 1993 but due to non-cooperation from the Haitian military it could not be fully deployed.

A US negotiation team succeeded in getting Cedras to stand down and an American Joint Task Force (JTF) entered Haiti. The JTF handed over to UNMIH, which had been re-established with a new mandate by UNSCR 940.

UNMIH, was tasked with assisting Haiti's democratic government by; protecting key installations; raising the professionalism of the Haitian armed forces; creating a professional police force; and organising free and fair elections.

Following the successful holding of parliamentary and local elections UNMIH's mission was complete and the mission ended in June 1996.

Operation Details
Duration	September 1994 – March 1996
Operation type	UN led Peacekeeping Operations (Observer)
Commitment	6 cumulative missions