Leaders of Haiti who will give up power under the agreement negotiated with the United States.
Raoul Cedras
Army commander and coup leader. Youngest of four sons in middle-class, Protestant merchant family. Graduated from Haiti’s military academy and later led it. Ensured voter security during the December 1990 election that put Aristide in office; promoted from colonel to lieutenant-general by a grateful Aristide. Signed, but later reneged on, U.N.-negotiated agreement in July 1993 that called for his resignation and Aristide’s return on Oct. 30 of that year. Vowed in July 1994 to stay in power unless the international community extended recognition to the army-supported de facto government of President Emile Jonassaint.
Joseph Michel
Francois
Army commander of the capital zone and Port-au-Prince’s hard-line police chief. Leads shadowy group of thousands of civilians blamed by the United Nations for political oppression and killings. Son of a member of ex-dictator Francois Duvalier’s presidential guard. Rescued by Cedras when the police chief under Aristide tried to fire him. Weeks later, Francois’ men began the coup that ousted Aristide. In June, he rejected a call from his brother, businessman Evans Francois, for the resignation of Cedras to save Haiti from U.S. intervention. More hard-line than Cedras.
Philippe Biamby
Army chief of staff, third in military hierarchy. In April 1989, led the presidential guards in a failed rebellion against military dictator Gen. Prosper Avril. Fled to the United States, where in spite of a weeks-long hunger strike his application for political asylum was turned down. Cedras reinstated him after the coup and promoted him from lieutenant colonel to brigadier general. His close rapport with troops makes him an essential partner to Cedras, who has never commanded any fighting force.
Emile Jonassaint
Haitian Supreme Court chief justice, installed as Haitian president in May 1994 by minority group of army-backed lawmakers. Assumed prime minister’s post and named a clique of extreme rightists and nationalists to the Cabinet. Born in the northern coastal town of Port-de-Paix. Senator in the northwest district from 1950 to 1956. President of the assembly that wrote the 1987 constitution. Named chief justice after Aristide’s ouster. Defends the 1991 coup, asserting that Aristide’s government violated the legal framework for its rule. Jonassaint and his Cabinet are considered a “bogus government” by the United States and the United Nations.
