"Every year on October 17, Haitians commemorate Le Jour de Dessalines, honoring Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the founding father of Haiti and one of the most courageous leaders in the global struggle for freedom. This day is not only a tribute to history, it is a renewal of national strength, unity, and dignity in the face of adversity.

Today, as Haiti faces complex insecurity caused by criminal gangs and social instability, the spirit of Dessalines becomes more relevant than ever. The creation of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) under UN Security Council Resolution 2793 (2025) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45891-haiti-flash-the-security-council-has-voted-for-the-new-gang-repression-force.html marks a critical step toward restoring peace and order. Yet, no foreign mission or national institution can succeed without the courage, discipline, and patriotism that Dessalines embodied.

Dessalines’ legacy teaches that liberation and sovereignty are achieved through unity and determination. At a time when fear and division threaten the social fabric, celebrating his day reminds Haitians that their independence was born from collective resilience and that same resilience must now confront the gangs that hold communities hostage.

To celebrate Le Jour de Dessalines in today’s Haiti is therefore to reaffirm the nation’s unbreakable will to live free, secure, and united. It is a call to every Haitian; civilian, police officer, soldier, and leader to defend the vision Dessalines died for: a sovereign Haiti where every citizen lives in Peace and dignity."

IH/ S/ iciHaiti