Efforts to Restore Aristide

The overthrow of Haiti's first democratically elected president in September 1991 propelledHaiti into its worst crisis since protests brought down the 29-year dictatorship of the Duvalier familyin 1986. The leaders of the coup faced stronger international sanctions than did previous coupleaders in Haiti, largely because a democratic government was overthrown. For more than three years, the regime resisted international demands that Aristide be restoredto office. The OAS's frustration lead to the involvement of the United Nations. civilian observer mission to oversee the restoration of order andmonitor human rights conditions. As the de facto Haitian government resisted the call for Aristide's return, the internationalcommunity responded with increased sanctions. U.S. Policy After the Coup

Following the September 1991 coup in Haiti, the main U.S. foreign policy concern was therestoration of democracy. Closely related to this was the issue of Haitians attempting to flee to theUnited States by boat. On June 6, 1993, the OAS called for reenforcement of its embargo by the U.N. and proposedsuspending commercial flights to Haiti. The President further stated that "the United States strongly supports the GovernorsIsland Agreement and restoration of democracy in Haiti" and that the measures to deploy U.S. forces"are consistent with United States goals and interests and constitute crucial support for the worldcommunity's strategy to overcome the persistent refusal of Haitian military and police authorities tofulfill their commitments under the Governors Island Agreement." OnOctober 7, it passed a political amnesty for the Haitian army. After three years in exile, President Aristide returned to office in Haiti on October 15,1994, calling for reconciliation and an end to violence. Several months later the United Statesdeclared that a "secure and stable environment" had been established.
The overthrow of Haiti's first democratically elected president in September 1991 propelledHaiti into its worst crisis since protests brought down the 29-year dictatorship of the Duvalier familyin 1986. The leaders of the coup faced stronger international sanctions than did previous coupleaders in Haiti, largely because a democratic government was overthrown.
For more than three years, the regime resisted international demands that PresidentJean-Bertrand Aristide be restored to office. U.S. policy consisted of pressuring the de facto Haitiangovernment to restore constitutional democracy to Haiti. Measures included: cutting off assistanceto the Haitian government; imposing trade embargoes, as called for by the Organization of AmericanStates (OAS) and the United Nations (U.N.); supporting OAS and U.N. diplomatic efforts; andimposing sanctions targeted at the leadership blocking Aristide's return.
On September 18, 1994, when it learned that a U.S. military intervention had been launched,the military regime signed an agreement with the United States providing for Aristide's return. Italso called for the immediate, unopposed entry of U.S. troops, a legislative amnesty for the military,and the resignation of the military leadership.
Under the protection of some 20,000 U.S. troops, President Aristide returned to Haiti onOctober 15, 1994, calling for reconciliation and an end to violence. On March 31, 1995, havingdeclared that a "secure and stable environment" had been established, the United States transferredresponsibility for the mission to the U.N.
During this period, the main U.S. foreign policy concern was the restoration of thedemocratic process to Haiti. Closely related to this was the issue of Haitians attempting to flee tothe United States by boat. Congressional concerns focused on human rights, Haitian migration,socioeconomic conditions, and drug trafficking.