| Scope note |
In 1990, the UN observed Haiti's first democratic elections. The first democratically elected President, Jean Bertrand Aristide, (elected with 67 per cent of the vote) was overthrown in a military coup d'etat on 30 September 1991, forcing the President into exile. The UN mediated an agreement for the return of Haiti to a democracy. Haiti's military leaders did not comply with the agreement and in 1994 the Security Council authorised the formation of a multinational force (MNF) to facilitate the leader's departure. After the MNF took control, the exiled President returned to Haiti in 1994. The Australian contingent serving with the MNF, from October 1994 until March 1995, consisted of 25 AFP officers, three Victorian Police officers and two Queensland Police officers. The UN formally took over from the MNF on 31 March 1995.
On 30 September 1991, President Aristide (the democratically elected president), was overthrown in a coup de tat, headed by Lieutenant-General Raoul Cedras and forced into exile. The violent and unconstitutional actions of the Haitian military forces were immediately and strongly condemned by the international community.
In September 1994, the President of the United States, Bill Clinton, stated that all diplomatic efforts had been exhausted and, in accordance with Security Council resolution 940 (1994), force might be used to remove the military leadership from power in Haiti and ensure the return of the democratic Government of President Aristide.
The military involvement in Haiti began on 19 September 1994, in which the US led a 28 nation multinational force into Haiti unopposed. UNMIH followed with UNMOs monitoring the progress of Resolution 940. On 28 September 1994, LTGEN Cedras resigned as Commander-in-Chief of the Haitian Armed Forces.
Australian Army Captains M. Fielding and P.D. Galea, along with SSGT P. Whitely were the only recorded ADF personnel that served on attachment with the US forces in Haiti. |