National Council of Government
Encyclopedia
The National Council of Government was the ruling body of Haiti
from 1986 to 1988. The council was first established on February 7, 1986 as a joint military and civilian provisional government
following the exile of President for Life Jean-Claude Duvalier
. The council consisted of a President, Lieutenant General Henri Namphy
, and five Members, three from the military and two civilians. The military Members were Colonels Williams Régala
, Max Valles, and Prosper Avril
, while the civilian Members were Gérard Gourgue and Alix Cinéas.
Gourgue resigned from the council less than two months after it was formed, and Colonel Valles, Colonel Avril, and Cinéas were forced to resign soon after. The first National Council was officially dissolved on March 20, 1986. During its short life, the council took two important actions: it dissolved President Duvalier's armed forces, the Volontaires de la Sécurité Nationale
, on February 15, and restored the blue and red flag of Haiti
on February 17.
A second National Council with three constituents was established on March 21, 1986, the day after the first council was dissolved. The two remaining men of the first council, Henri Namphy and Williams Régala, reprised their positions as President and Member, respectively. Jacques A François joined the council as the second Member. This version of the National Council ruled until February 7, 1988, when Leslie François Manigat took office as President of Haiti
.
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
from 1986 to 1988. The council was first established on February 7, 1986 as a joint military and civilian provisional government
Provisional government
A provisional government is an emergency or interim government set up when a political void has been created by the collapse of a very large government. The early provisional governments were created to prepare for the return of royal rule...
following the exile of President for Life Jean-Claude Duvalier
Jean-Claude Duvalier
Jean-Claude Duvalier, nicknamed "Bébé Doc" or "Baby Doc" was the President of Haiti from 1971 until his overthrow by a popular uprising in 1986. He succeeded his father, François "Papa Doc" Duvalier, as the ruler of Haiti upon his father's death in 1971...
. The council consisted of a President, Lieutenant General Henri Namphy
Henri Namphy
Henri Namphy was a Haitian general and political figure. He served as President of Haiti's interim ruling body, the National Council of Government, from 7 February 1986 to 7 February 1988...
, and five Members, three from the military and two civilians. The military Members were Colonels Williams Régala
Williams Régala
Williams Régala is a former member of Haiti's National Council of Government. He was a member of the short-lived first council , as well as the second council, which ruled until 7 February 1988, when Leslie Manigat took office. Régala had been the head of the secret service under Jean-Claude...
, Max Valles, and Prosper Avril
Prosper Avril
Prosper Avril is a Haitian political figure who was President of Haiti from 1988 to 1990. A trusted member of François Duvalier's Presidential Guard and adviser to Jean-Claude Duvalier, Lt. Gen. Avril led the September 1988 Haitian coup d'état against a transition military government installed...
, while the civilian Members were Gérard Gourgue and Alix Cinéas.
Gourgue resigned from the council less than two months after it was formed, and Colonel Valles, Colonel Avril, and Cinéas were forced to resign soon after. The first National Council was officially dissolved on March 20, 1986. During its short life, the council took two important actions: it dissolved President Duvalier's armed forces, the Volontaires de la Sécurité Nationale
Tonton Macoute
Tonton Macoutes was a Haitian paramilitary force created in 1959 by President François 'Papa Doc' Duvalier. In 1970, the militia was officially renamed the Milice de Volontaires de la Sécurité Nationale .Haitians called this force the “Tonton Macoutes,” after the Haitian Creole mythological...
, on February 15, and restored the blue and red flag of Haiti
Flag of Haiti
The flag of Haiti consists of two horizontal bars, blue over red, defaced by a white panel bearing the Haitian coat of arms.The coat of arms depicts a trophy of weapons ready to defend freedom and a royal palm for independence...
on February 17.
A second National Council with three constituents was established on March 21, 1986, the day after the first council was dissolved. The two remaining men of the first council, Henri Namphy and Williams Régala, reprised their positions as President and Member, respectively. Jacques A François joined the council as the second Member. This version of the National Council ruled until February 7, 1988, when Leslie François Manigat took office as President of Haiti
President of Haiti
The President of the Republic of Haiti is the head of state of Haiti. Executive power in Haiti is divided between the president and the government headed by the Prime Minister of Haiti...
.