French-Haitian panel to study ex-colony's history and 'independence debt'
The French president announced the commission on the 200th anniversary of France ordering Haiti to pay a debt for its freedom.
British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersFrench-Haitian panel to study ex-colony's history22 hours agoShareSaveGeorge WrightBBC NewsShareSaveGetty ImagesFrance's President Emmanuel Macron says he will set up a commission to study French-Haitian history and the impact of a huge debt imposed on Haiti in exchange for its independence exactly 200 years ago.
Macron said the panel of French and Haitian historians would make recommendations to help build a more "peaceful future".
Haiti gained independence from France in 1804, but in 1825, France ordered that the former colony pay 150m gold francs - later reduced to 90m - to compensate French slave owners and secure an end to hostilities.
The debt, which was not paid off until 1947, contributed to Haiti becoming one of the poorest and most unstable countries in the Americas.
The debt has been a source of anger among Haitians, who have called for France to repay the money.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c39j7k1n48mo
Rating: 5