We are publishing below the opening speech by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, this August 21, at the national defense and security conference on the theme ‘What Army for Haiti?’
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In 1804, our ancestors won freedom and declared, before the world, the right of the Haitian people to govern themselves.
Two centuries later, it is up to us to keep this legacy alive by strengthening the instruments of our sovereignty.
This is the purpose of the initiative we are undertaking today.
I want, at this moment, to salute the commitment of the Minister of Defense, as well as that of the High Command and all the women and men who contributed to organizing this Assembly.
Through their work, determination, and sense of duty, they provide the Nation with a necessary space for reflection on one of the essential attributes of its sovereignty.The question that brings us together is a major one: what kind of army for Haiti?
I will answer right away: the one required by a modern, sovereign, and respected Republic.
Such an ambition calls for a vision of the State, the strength of institutions, and the continuity of national interest.
For the defense of the Nation is one of the primary reasons for the State’s existence.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Governing is first and foremost about looking at reality as it is, not as we wish it to be.The reality of our country is clear: for far too long, too many of our fellow citizens have been living under the weight of fear, uncertainty, and insecurity.
In the face of this challenge, the State cannot turn a blind eye or shirk its responsibilities.
The Government is taking action and will continue to act with determination.
But we also know that no single institution can tackle all the challenges of a Nation on its own.
That’s why the rebuilding of Haiti’s Armed Forces must be part of a bigger vision:
that of national security and the sustainable restoration of the State’s authority across the entire country.The army is not meant to replace other institutions.
It is one of the legitimate tools the Republic has to protect the Nation, defend its sovereignty, and ensure the continuity of the State.
Ultimately, a people’s first freedom is to live in safety.
Without security, rights weaken, institutions falter, and collective trust fragments.
Restoring this security is therefore more than an operational necessity: it is a political and moral requirement.
The ambition that unites us will not be judged by the quality of our speeches, but by the reality of its results:A more present state, a better-protected territory, and citizens who are more confident.
But beyond the decisions that will come out of these Assises, I want to highlight an equally important reality.
Let’s look at ourselves. We come from different backgrounds. Sometimes we hold different beliefs.
We don’t always have the same view of the past or the same expectations for the future.
Yet today, we are united by something greater than what divides us: service to the Nation.
In the history of peoples, great progress begins when national interest takes precedence over individual interests.It is this spirit that must guide us.
May this gathering be more than a moment. May it be a commitment.
For Haiti needs authority, but a just authority. Haiti needs strong institutions, but also trust.
Haiti needs a national vision capable of uniting wills around the same purpose.
The Republic is stronger when its children come together on what truly matters. And today, what truly matters is Haiti.
The Republic of Haiti was born from its Army.
Today, its security, stability, and recovery require the rebuilding of a strong, modern, professional, and republican army.Faced with the security crisis, we made a clear choice: to strengthen the two pillars of our national security, the Haitian National Police and the Haitian Armed Forces.
By the end of the year, several thousand young Haitians will join the ranks of the FAd’H to sustainably reinforce our ability to defend the territory and protect the Nation.
I salute the commitment of our youth.
The Army must once again become a school of discipline, rigor, citizenship, and service to the Nation.
It must offer our young people a path for the future and give them the means to contribute to both the defense and the reconstruction of their country.
Because there is no sustainable development and no strong State without security.We also need to open the debate on mandatory military service, as a tool for civic education, discipline, and mobilizing youth in the service of national interest.
And this Army must belong to the whole Nation: both women and men must have their place in defending the Republic.
We will not rebuild the Army of the recent past.
We will build the Army of the future.
A republican, modern, disciplined Army fully under the authority of the State;
an Army that protects the territory, serves the people, and contributes to national recovery.
Rebuilding our Army means restoring the authority of the State.
It means strengthening our sovereignty.It’s about giving Haiti back the means to defend itself, to recover, and to believe in its future.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I know the skill, experience, and sense of state gathered in this room.
That’s why I invite you to work with an open mind, rigor, and a sense of responsibility toward the Nation.
The Government will review your recommendations with the seriousness they deserve.
They are not meant to simply fill our archives, but to guide our decisions and contribute to a defense policy that meets the country’s challenges.
Our goal is clear: restore state authority, strengthen security across the territory, consolidate national stability, and create the conditions for the full functioning of our democratic institutions.
Security is not an end in itself. It’s the foundation for civil peace, trust, and development.We want a Haiti where every family can look to the future with hope, free from fear and protected by strong and stable institutions.
We also want a Haiti where the people fully exercise their sovereignty through free, credible, and democratic elections.
I have confidence in our collective ability to achieve this goal.
The history of our people shows that they have always been able to find the resources needed to get back on their feet and move forward.
Today, we choose action, responsibility, and hope.
With unity of purpose, the strength of institutions, and renewed trust, Haiti can return to the stability, security, and future it deserves.
I declare the National Defense and Security Assemblies open.
Long live the University of Haiti
Long live the Haitian Army Long live the Republic. Long live the Haitian Nation.
Thank you.
