In a rare and candid interview with Caribbean Television Network (CTN), former U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, Luis Moreno, offers a striking account of the behind-the-scenes decisions shaping Haiti’s ongoing collapse. As the country sinks deeper into violence and instability, Moreno reveals the troubling direction of international and local responses.
Private Contractors and a Dangerous Gamble
According to Moreno, the Haitian transitional government is exploring deals with U.S. mercenary firms — some allegedly tied to abuses during the Iraq War — in a desperate attempt to regain control. “They’re looking to hire sketchy contractors… I think this is a serious mistake,” he warns, noting that outsourcing security to unregulated forces could deepen the violence rather than resolve it.
Weaponizing Terror Labels to Deport Haitians?
Moreno goes further, accusing U.S. authorities of manipulating terrorism designations to facilitate the deportation of Haitian migrants. He suggests this tactic is being used to bypass international protections. “How can we deport people to a country where planes can’t even land?” he asks, highlighting the contradiction between U.S. immigration policy and conditions on the ground in Haiti.
Aristide, the Exit, and the Path Forward
For the first time publicly, Moreno discusses the contested resignation of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004 — raising new questions about whether it was truly voluntary. Concluding the interview, he rejects militarized solutions and urges a renewed commitment to diplomacy, institutional reform, and justice. “Haiti doesn’t need more guns,” he says, “it needs accountable leadership.”
