On November 17, 2025, during an interview with Magik 9, sociologist Michèle Oriol alerted about the collapse of urban governance in Haiti. She denounced the lack of institutional competence, the authorities' mistrust of the population and the inadequacy of international interventions. According to her, only a re-foundation of the state will allow Haitian cities to get out of this chaotic urbanization.
For several years, Haitian urbanization has escaped any coherent planning. Invited from Magik 9, the sociologist denounced an institutional system unable to organize the territory or anticipate the risks. For her, cities develop without strategic orientation, revealing a state that no longer guides, but observes, powerless.
She stressed that thinking urban space requires the collaboration of demographers, engineers, geographers and planners. — synergy largely absent from local governments. This institutional fragmentation leads to improvised decisions, often taken without reliable data or a comprehensive vision, increasing the vulnerability of populations.
Mrs Oriol also highlighted a structural blockage: the authorities' mistrust of the population, which leads them to avoid urban reforms for fear of misunderstood. This hesitation paralyses public action. It advocates social support, based on awareness-raising and dialogue, rather than coercion, particularly in cases of relocation to risk areas.
Another point raised was the inadequacy of international interventions. Often thought outside the local context, they lack anchor and fail to integrate into a coherent territorial vision. As a result, they pile up on an already fragmented administrative puzzle, without real efficiency.
In conclusion, the sociologist recalls that despite the attractiveness of urban areas — jobs, services, economic opportunities —urban dwellers live in unworthy conditions. This paradox, she says, demonstrates the urgency of rebuilding the state. A competent and coherent administration is essential to reorganize cities, protect citizens and end anarchic urbanization.
W.A.
