By: Jude Elie
July 22, 2025
Today, our homeland finds itself at a critical crossroads, where our national integrity is gravely threatened. This threat does not come from direct foreign aggression, but from a more insidious and deep-rooted danger: the grip of dark forces—armed criminal groups that have infiltrated our streets, our cities, and our daily lives.
These organized gangs, fueled by trafficking networks, endemic corruption, and systemic violence, are sustained by both internal and external support. They have turned our land into a stage of oppression—a place where fear has taken hold, and where hope, though flickering, is not yet extinguished.
Every day, innocent lives are lost to violence. Women and girls endure rape and humiliation. Families flee from gunfire and terror. Famine, worsening health conditions, and the spread of infectious diseases seep into our most vulnerable communities. Our institutions—especially the healthcare system—are collapsing. Our economy remains stuck in a persistent recession. The National Police, lacking sufficient resources, struggle to combat organized crime effectively, despite the dedication of its members. Meanwhile, our political system has become a tragic farce, overshadowed by weak governance and chronic instability.
This crisis extends far beyond our borders. The Haitian diaspora lives in anguish—facing stigma, unjust deportations from the Dominican Republic, migration restrictions in the United States, and growing indifference from the international community toward our fate.
Yet, fellow citizens, I say to you today: all is not lost. The fight for our sovereignty and our dignity is not yet over.
Now is the time to turn the page on resignation and rekindle a new flame of hope. The fire of freedom—fragile but still burning—lives in our hearts. It can be reignited through our collective determination, through our will to rise against oppression, and through our unity in a just struggle for justice and the rebirth of our nation.
I, Jude Élie, a humble citizen, issue this solemn call: together, we can and must free Haiti from the grip of those who, through criminal gangs, illicit enrichment, and collusion with foreign interests, have destroyed our shared future.
Whether you are in Haiti or part of the diaspora around the world, I call upon every man and woman, every young person and elder, to rise and commit to this noble fight. Only the unity of our consciences and our actions can transform our country.
We must build a nation rooted in peace, justice, mutual respect, public security, honesty, and truth. This path demands sacrifice, endurance, and moral integrity. But together—united and determined—we can reclaim our destiny.
Haitian sisters and brothers, never forget: you are the heirs of heroes who fought for the freedom and dignity of our people. Let their courage continue to inspire our collective journey forward.
Let us no longer allow fear, corruption, exploitation, or foreign manipulation to determine our future. The time has come to face brutality, to reject violence, and to restore the sovereignty of our homeland.
Haiti’s future now rests in our hands. The moment has come to say no to violence, no to oppression—and to embrace, with resolve, the hope of genuine national renewal.
Together, we can help shape a brighter future for our beloved Haiti.
With deep respect and unwavering commitment.
(Jude Elie is an engineer, political activist and a Haitian presidential hopeful.)
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