2004 Haitian coup d'état

The February 2004 removal of Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who left the country amid an armed rebellion and international pressure. The disputed circumstances and foreign role remain central to its interpretation.

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Jean-Bertrand Aristide: Haitian priest and politician who served as president from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2004. His presidency, departure, and account of being forced out sit at the center of the event.
Gonaïves: A port city in western Haiti and the country’s third-largest urban center. Rebels seized Gonaïves on February 5, making the city a launch point for their advance.
Yvon Neptune: Haitian politician who served as prime minister under Jean-Bertrand Aristide from 2002 to 2004. He remained a leading Lavalas figure after Aristide’s departure and was later imprisoned.
Haitian transition government (2004–2006): The interim Haitian government led by Boniface Alexandre and prime minister Gérard Latortue from 2004 to 2006. It governed after Aristide’s removal while preparing elections amid persistent insecurity.
Coup d'état: The sudden, extralegal seizure of a government, usually by a small group within the state. Whether Aristide’s removal meets this definition is central to the event’s disputed classification.
Fanmi Lavalas: A Haitian political party and movement founded by Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The party’s government faced opposition mobilization and escalating political conflict before the overthrow.
National Revolutionary Front for the Liberation of Haiti: An armed coalition that led the 2004 rebellion against Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s government. Its fighters advanced toward Port-au-Prince as government control collapsed.
U.S. Department of State: The United States federal department responsible for diplomacy and foreign policy. Its officials rejected Aristide’s claim that the United States forced him from Haiti.
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti: A UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti established in 2004 and known by the acronym MINUSTAH. It replaced the interim multinational force and became a major presence after the coup.
2004 Haitian rebellion: The armed uprising against Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s government that began in February 2004. The rebellion describes the fighting; the coup label emphasizes the resulting removal of the president.