On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, Leslie Voltaire, the pro tempore President of the Transitional Council in Haiti, has been received at the Élysée Palace in Paris by the President of France Emmanuel Macron.

This meeting provided an opportunity to discuss several topics of common interest, including security, the fight against organized crime, the issue of child soldiers, the electoral process and bilateral cooperation.

President Macron reaffirmed France's commitment to supporting Haiti. He announced Franco-Colombian maritime cooperation to combat drug, arms and ammunition trafficking in the region.

France will also provide its intelligence expertise and participate in assessing the need for air equipment to strengthen the capabilities of Haitian security forces.

Regarding American aid Voltaire said "[...] now that Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the United States has announced that they will finance the multinational force, President Ruto will probably send the remaining 400 Kenyans..." which will bring the multinational force to just over 1,200 men. Current effective : 807 military/police (617 Kenyans, 150 Guatemalans, 8 Salvadorans, 6 Bahamians, 24 Jamaicans and 2 Belizeans) out of the 2,500 men in total from different countries, planned for the mission.

It was President Macron who first addressed the issue of the independence debt. He expressed his willingness to address this memorial issue with transparency and method. To this end, he agreed with President Voltaire to meet in Paris on April 17, 2025, the date marking the 200th anniversary of the first payment of this debt, in order to make an announcement "We did not talk about money. We talked about the principle of a declaration that we will see together [...]" Voltaire specified.

President Voltaire also raised the issue of children forcibly recruited into gangs. He presented a reintegration plan for which France expressed its support and its willingness to assist Haiti in its implementation.

Finally, the two men discussed several initiatives aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of the environment, energy and the professionalization of law enforcement.

Interview with Leslie Voltaire on TV5 Monde :

HL/ S/ HaitiLibre