Dear Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat,
We, respectfully request that you send Haiti’s 2016 notification for membership in the African Union (AU) to all AU Member States for their review and decision.
Haiti, known as the world’s first free black republic, informed the AU of its intention to join the Union in 2016, based on Article 29 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union.
According to this article, admission should be determined by a simple majority vote among AU Member States.
However, the AU Commission decided not to admit Haiti, citing that “only African countries can join the AU,” implying that Haiti is not considered an African country.We contest this decision.
While Haiti is not geographically on the African continent, AU law recognizes it as legally part of the African Continent. This is supported by Article 3(q) of the Protocol on the Amendments to the Constitutive Act of the African Union.
Furthermore, approximately 95% of Haitians are descendants of Africans who were enslaved and forcibly brought to the Caribbean, creating a substantial historical and cultural connection.
Had Haiti’s membership notification been forwarded and accepted by a simple majority, Haiti would have had the opportunity to join the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), benefiting both its development and Africa’s economic integration.
We urge you to follow the example set by the General Secretariat of the Arab League, which has not allowed geography to limit its adherence to Article 1 of the Charter of the League of Arab States.
This has allowed several North African countries to be full members of the Arab League despite not being part of the Arabian Peninsula.
Additionally, the United States provides a relevant example: despite not being part of the continental U.S., Hawaii enjoys full rights as a state, as proven by Barack Obama’s presidency.
We, the undersigned, call upon you to take immediate action to address this critical issue.
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