Overview:
The Patriotic Congress for National Rescue, held from March 31 to June 27 across Haiti and its diaspora, concluded with bold recommendations to address the country’s worsening crisis. Calling for a national strategy to fight insecurity, participants demanded elections to end ongoing transitions, the suspension of the constitutional reform process and reforms to public governance. Led by academics and civil society leaders, the Congress emphasized that solutions must come from within Haiti, rather than relying on foreign intervention.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — The Patriotic Congress for National Rescue concluded on June 27 after a nearly month-long period of consultations across Haiti and its diaspora, with a set of proposals aimed at addressing the country’s prolonged crises. Launched by members of the academic community and civil society organizations, the initiative called for a national security strategy, an end to the perpetual transitional governments and sweeping reforms in public governance.
“Security first,” said Darline Alexis, secretary general of Quisqueya University (UNIQ), as she read from the National Patriotic Congress declaration during its final session in Pétion-Ville.
“The government must stop relying on foreign actors to pull us out of the calamity of insecurity. We must rely on ourselves as capable and responsible leaders to solve our problems.”
“Transition cannot become a normal mode of governance,” Alexis added, reflecting a common concern among participants.
“Only elections can provide a path forward.”
In the draft document, which is expected to be finalized and published soon, multisectoral participants also call for a reorganization of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) to regain the confidence and trust of the Haitian people, a halt to the constitutional referendum and an audit of the National Identification Office (ONI) to ensure electoral credibility.
Held from March 31 to June 27, the Patriotic Congress brought together over 1,000 participants from Haiti’s 10 departments and the diaspora. Discussions took place online and in person at public university campuses, centering on three primary themes: insecurity, governance and political transition.
Notably, the initiative drew support from influential figures such as Jacky Lumarque, rector of Quisqueya University, Michaëlle Jean, former Governor General of Canada, and numerous Haitian studies scholars, including current and past presidents of universities based in the United States.
Participants included scholars, political leaders, human rights advocates, journalists, victims of gang violence and members of grassroots and social organizations.
Calls for a new CEP were echoed widely, with demands for transparency, vetting of its members and a new electoral calendar. Participants urged the redirection of state funds away from political privileges and toward equipping the police and army to tackle gang violence. They also advocated for a coordinated intelligence strategy and cross-border cooperation with the Dominican Republic to curb arms trafficking.
The Congress’ proposals reflect growing frustration with Haiti’s current leadership, especially the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), which has failed to restore security or hold elections in over a year
Despite this, organizers emphasized that the Congress was not intended to oppose any specific group. “We carried out this process transparently,” Haitian professor Marc Prou, one of the organizers who confirmed that the international community was aware of the series of national dialogues, said.
“This Congress was not organized against any governing body, but for the rescue of the country. That’s why everyone must be involved in its [proposed solutions plan] implementation.”
Organizers plan to distribute the final resolution to key stakeholders, including CARICOM, the United Nations, the Organization of American States (OAS) and Haitian government institutions. A delegation has been tasked to present the proposals abroad to generate international support.
Mirelande Paraison, coordinator of Solidarite pou Retounen Lakay (SORELAK), Haitian Creole for “Solidarity for Returning Home,” said, “What we hope to see from this Congress is a true rethinking of how this country is governed, so that people no longer enter public office merely to enrich themselves at the expense of the population.”
“For us, this congress is a promising initiative, and we’ve been waiting for this kind of action for a very long time,” added the coordinator of SORELAK.
Despite the initiative and the participation of a wide range of stakeholders — including Leslie Voltaire, a member of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) — the forthcoming resolution raises questions and doubts about its implementation. As the final text has yet to be published on the Congress portal, the rollout process and the timeline for expected outcomes remain unclear.
However, the organizers insist that all relevant sectors — including international organizations, the government and the Transitional Presidential Council engaged in efforts to resolve the Haitian crisis — will receive the crisis-resolution document drafted by academics.
“We carried out this process transparently, as this Congress was not organized against any governing body, but for the salvation of the country. That’s why everyone must be involved in its implementation.”
Marc Prou
While implementation remains uncertain, the initiative has laid the groundwork for what organizers describe as a collective effort to guide Haiti toward a more stable and sovereign future. The process, they say, must now shift from consultation to action.
Jean Mary Louis, a member of the organizing committee, agrees. “The next step is to make these resolutions public,” he said. “We expect reactions from civil society and, hopefully, from those currently in power. But this must not end here.”
“In the next phase, universities must take on an even greater role—conducting in-depth research, analyzing realities, and proposing concrete, actionable solutions. The university’s mission is not to govern or appoint officials, but to observe, analyze and clarify what works and what fails. Moving forward, all institutions must fulfill their responsibilities in this shared national effort.”
The following images capture the atmosphere during the last two days of the Patriotic Congress for National Rescue in Pétion-Ville/Port-au-Prince.
