Prosper Avril facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Prosper Avril
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| 38th President of Haiti | |
| In office September 17, 1988 – March 10, 1990 |
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| Preceded by | Henri Namphy |
| Succeeded by | Hérard Abraham |
| Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Haiti | |
| In office September 17, 1988 – March 10, 1990 |
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| President | Himself |
| Preceded by | Carl-Michel Nicolas |
| Succeeded by | Herard Abraham |
| Member of the Provisional Government of Haiti | |
| In office February 7, 1987 – March 21, 1987 |
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| President | Henri Namphy |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Matthieu Prosper Avril
December 12, 1937 Thomazeau, Haiti |
| Political party | National Progressive Party |
| Spouse | Marie-Ange Nazon |
Matthieu Prosper Avril (born December 12, 1937) is a political figure from Haiti who served as the country's president from 1988 to 1990. He was a trusted member of President François Duvalier's Presidential Guard and an advisor to his son, Jean-Claude Duvalier.
In September 1988, Lieutenant General Avril led a coup d'état (a sudden overthrow of a government) against the military government that was in power at the time. He became president but stepped down in March 1990. After his presidency, he faced legal challenges and was arrested in 2001. He was released in 2004 after a new government came to power.
Contents
Early Life and Military Career
Prosper Avril was born in Thomazeau, a small town near Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. He decided to join the army and was a top student at the military academy.
Working with the Duvaliers
As a young officer, Avril was part of the presidential guard for President François Duvalier. When Duvalier's son, Jean-Claude Duvalier, became president in 1971, Avril became one of his advisors. He was known to be in charge of the president's finances.
In 1983, Jean-Claude Duvalier forced Avril to retire from the army. However, in 1986, as many people in Haiti protested against the government, Avril was brought back and promoted to Colonel. After the Duvalier government fell, Avril suggested that Haitians living in other countries should need special permission to visit Haiti. He believed this would help keep the country stable.
Rise to Power
Avril was well-respected by many in the army. After the Duvalier family left power, a military group, or junta, took control. Avril was briefly an advisor to this new government but had to resign because of his past connections to the Duvaliers.
He soon rejoined the presidential guard. In June 1988, he helped the head of the junta, Henri Namphy, overthrow President Leslie Manigat. Manigat was a civilian president who had won an election controlled by the military. After this, Namphy promoted Avril to lieutenant general.
Presidency of Haiti (1988–1990)
On September 17, 1988, just a week after a violent attack on a church, Avril overthrew General Namphy in a peaceful coup and became president. At the time, not much was known about his political ideas.
As president, Avril tried to build support by meeting with community leaders and creating a government with civilians in it. In March 1989, he brought back the 1987 Constitution of Haiti.
However, his time as president was difficult. The U.S. government wanted him to take action against illegal activities to receive aid, which made him unpopular with some army members. In April 1989, a group of officers tried to overthrow him, but he stopped their attempt.
End of Presidency
Many people and opposition groups demanded that Avril hold free elections as he had promised. As protests grew, he began sending his opponents out of the country.
In January 1990, he visited Taiwan to ask for support, but he returned without any new agreements. After large public protests back in Haiti, Avril decided to step down. On March 10, 1990, he handed over power to the head of the army, General Hérard Abraham.
Life After the Presidency
After leaving office, Avril went to live in Miami, Florida. He later moved to the Dominican Republic before returning to Haiti in 1993.
In 2001, after Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected president, Avril was arrested. He was accused of planning against the government. An appeals court released him in 2002, saying there was not enough evidence. He was arrested again on other charges but was freed in 2004 when President Aristide's government was overthrown.
Publications in English
- An Appeal to History: The Truth about a Singular Lawsuit
- From Glory to Disgrace: The Haitian Army, 1804–1994
- Haiti (1995–2000): The Black Book on Insecurity
- Justice Versus Politics in Haiti (2001–2004)
See also
In Spanish: Prosper Avril para niños
