# Department of Foreign Affairs

> department of Haiti

**Wikidata**: [Q125449859](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q125449859)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/department-of-foreign-affairs-q125449859

## Summary
The Department of Foreign Affairs is a government agency of Haiti, operating as the organisational part of the state responsible for managing its foreign affairs and specific public services. Also known as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Haiti (or Département des affaires étrangères), it administers the international relations of the Caribbean nation. Its historical records are preserved at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Government agency.
- **Location:** Haiti (a country in the Caribbean Sea, geographically part of North America and the Latin America region).
- **Aliases:** Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Haiti; Département des affaires étrangères.
- **Archives Location:** Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division).
- **Archive Collection ID:** Sc MG 770.
- **Archive Reference URL:** https://archives.nypl.org/scm/25622.
- **Authority IDs:** VIAF ID 153692259; Library of Congress Authority ID n86137422.
- **Host Nation Inception:** Haiti was established on January 1, 1804.
- **Host Nation Capital:** Port-au-Prince.
- **Host Nation Area:** 27,750.0 square kilometres.

## FAQs
**What is the Department of Foreign Affairs?**
It is a government agency in Haiti responsible for overseeing the nation's foreign affairs. It operates as a core organizational part of the Haitian government.

**Where are the department's historical records archived?**
Archives for the Haitian Government documents, which include materials related to this department, are held at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. They are located in the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division under collection number Sc MG 770.

**In what governmental context does this department operate?**
The department functions within the Republic of Haiti, a sovereign state established in 1804. As of 2024, Haiti's executive leadership includes a Transitional Presidential Council (Head of State) and Acting Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé (Head of Government).

**How is the department recognized in library and knowledge systems?**
The agency is cataloged under the Library of Congress Authority ID n86137422 and the VIAF ID 153692259. It is also listed on the focus list for the WikiProject New York Public Library.

## Why It Matters
The Department of Foreign Affairs plays a pivotal role in managing Haiti's diplomatic presence and international partnerships, which are crucial for a nation founded in 1804 and situated in a strategically important region of the Caribbean. Haiti maintains diplomatic relations with key global partners—including the United States, France, Canada, Brazil, and Taiwan—and is an active member of international bodies such as the United Nations (which it joined in 1945) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). 

The preservation of the department's historical documents at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture underscores its significance in the broader context of global history and Black heritage. By archiving these Haitian government documents, researchers can access primary sources detailing the diplomatic and political evolution of the world's first independent Black republic.

## Notable For
- **Diplomatic Mandate:** Acting as the specific organizational body responsible for Haiti's foreign affairs and international relations.
- **Historical Preservation:** Having its records officially archived at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York.
- **International Integration:** Executing the foreign policy of a nation that is a member of the UN, CARICOM, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, and the World Trade Organization.
- **Authority Tracking:** Possessing distinct identifiers in major international authority control systems, including the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) and the Library of Congress.

## Body

### Department Profile and Identification
The Department of Foreign Affairs functions as a government agency within Haiti. In organizational taxonomies, a government agency is defined as an organizational part of a government responsible for specific public services, such as foreign affairs. It is interchangeably referred to as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Haiti and the Département des affaires étrangères. 

The entity is tracked through several bibliographic and authority systems:
- **VIAF ID:** 153692259
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n86137422
- **Archives:** The department's associated government documents are archived at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, specifically within the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division. The collection is identified as "Haitian Government documents" with the call number Sc MG 770 and can be referenced online at https://archives.nypl.org/scm/25622. 
- **Wiki Focus:** It is on the focus list of the WikiProject New York Public Library.

### Operational Context: Geography of Haiti
The department operates on behalf of Haiti, an island country and sovereign state situated in the Caribbean Sea. Geographically, Haiti is part of the North American continent and the Latin America region, sharing the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. 
- **Territory:** The nation encompasses 27,750.0 square kilometres. 
- **Coordinates:** Its geographic center is approximately 19°N, -72.8°W. 
- **Extremes:** The Northernmost point is 20.08°N, -72.8°W; the Southernmost point is 18.02°N, -73.87°W; the Easternmost point is 19.21°N, -71.62°W; and the Westernmost point is 18.49°N, -74.45°W (near Anse-d'Hainault).
- **Topography:** The landscape ranges from sea level at the Caribbean Sea to Pic la Selle, which peaks at 2,674 metres.
- **Infrastructure:** The country utilizes right-side driving. Electrical infrastructure operates on 110 volts at 60 Hz using NEMA 1-15 and NEMA 5-15 plugs. Emergency numbers include 114/122 for police, 115 for fire, and 116 for medical services.

### Operational Context: Government and Politics
Haiti operates as a republic with an executive body (Government of Haiti) and a legislative body (Parliament of Haiti). The department falls under this executive structure. 
- **Head of State:** The office is currently held by the Transitional Presidential Council (starting April 25, 2024). Previous presidents include Michel Martelly (2011–2016), Jocelerme Privert (2016–2017), Jovenel Moïse (2017–2021), and Ariel Henry (Acting, 2021–2024).
- **Head of Government:** The office is the Prime Minister of Haiti (established in its current form since 1988). The current Acting Prime Minister is Alix Didier Fils-Aimé (starting November 11, 2024), succeeding Garry Conille (Acting, June 2024 – November 2024), Ariel Henry (Acting, 2021–2024), Joseph Jouthe (2020–2021), Jean-Henry Céant (2018–2019), and Jack Guy Lafontant (2017–2018).
- **Financial Institution:** The nation's central bank is the Bank of the Republic of Haiti.
- **Political Indices:** Haiti's governance is tracked through indices such as the Democracy Index (4.22 in 2020), BTI Status Index (3.34 in 2022), and BTI Governance Index (2.94 in 2022).
- **Social Legislation:** Marriageable age is 18 for all genders, and compulsory education spans from ages 6 to 11.

### Operational Context: Demographics and Society
The department serves a population of approximately 11.58 million (based on 2022 estimates combining 5,738,710 males and 5,846,285 females). 
- **Population History:** The recorded population was 960,000 in 1887 and 10,981,229 in 2017. As of 2022, the urban population is 6,814,295, while the rural population is 4,770,701.
- **Vital Statistics (2022):** The birth rate is 23.146 per 1,000, and the death rate is 8.48 per 1,000. Life expectancy is 64 years, with a total fertility rate of 3.033 (as of 2014).
- **Culture and Language:** The culture is formally designated as the "culture of Haiti." Demonyms include Haitian (English), Haïtien/Haïtienne (French), and Ayisyen (Haitian Creole). The official languages are French and Haitian Creole, with additional use of the Haitian Vodoun Culture Language.

### Operational Context: Economy
The department operates within an economy monitored by the Haitian gourde (currency since 1813, replacing the Haitian livre).
- **GDP:** Nominal GDP was $20.87 billion USD in 2021 and $20.25 billion USD in 2022.
- **Economic Indicators:** Other data includes an unemployment rate of 7% (2014), a VAT rate of 10%, and a Gini Coefficient of 41.1 (2012). 
- **Development Indices:** The Human Development Index (HDI) was recorded at 0.535 in 2021, with an inequality-adjusted HDI of 0.327 the same year.

### Operational Context: International Relations
The department's portfolio involves managing Haiti's extensive international memberships and diplomatic relations.
- **United Nations:** Haiti has been a member since October 24, 1945.
- **Regional and Global Bodies:** Haiti belongs to the Caribbean Community (since 2002), Organisation of American States (since 1948), Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (since 1970), UNESCO (since 1946), Interpol (since 1957), and the World Trade Organization. It is also involved with International Monetary Fund bodies (IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA).
- **Treaties:** Haiti is party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- **Diplomatic Partners:** The nation maintains relations with the United States, France, Canada, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Israel, Taiwan, Germany, Venezuela, and Bangladesh. 
- **National Symbols:** Haiti utilizes the mottos "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" and "L'Union fait la force," the anthem "La Dessalinienne," and the top-level domain ".ht" (telephone code +509). International codes include ISO 3166-1 alpha-2: HT, alpha-3: HTI, and numeric: 332.

## References

1. [Source](https://archives.nypl.org/scm/25622)