Former Haitian Prime Minister publicly severs ties with ex-President, apologizes to the nation amid ongoing political turmoil
Port-au-Prince, Haiti – December 8, 2025 In a candid and unsparing Instagram post that has sent ripples through Haiti’s fractured political landscape, former Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe declared his once-close alliance with ex-President Michel “Sweet Micky” Martelly “irreversibly” over since July 2021. Labeling his support for Martelly’s 2011 presidential bid as “the biggest mistake of my life,” Lamothe issued a rare public apology to the Haitian people, citing years of “ingratitude” and “manipulation” as the breaking points.
The post, shared on Saturday, December 6, was prompted by a recent encounter where a Haitian woman praised Lamothe and Martelly as a “beautiful team.” Lamothe, 53, used the moment to set the record straight, revealing that cracks in their partnership first appeared in 2014 but shattered definitively on July 9, 2021—the day after the brutal assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, Martelly’s handpicked successor.
“From then on: no more team, no more link. The page was turned – without possible return,” Lamothe wrote in French, emphasizing his long-held loyalty that he could no longer sustain amid what he described as Martelly’s “permanent political mode of functioning” based on deceit. He concluded with a heartfelt mea culpa: “With hindsight, it was the biggest mistake of my life,” extending apologies to Haitians for endorsing a leader he now views as a source of national division.
As of Monday, no response had been issued from Martelly or his representatives, leaving the declaration to dominate conversations in Port-au-Prince salons, Miami exile circles, and social media feeds across the diaspora.
A Partnership Forged in Crisis, Fractured by Scandal
Lamothe and Martelly’s bromance was once the stuff of Haitian political legend. A tech-savvy entrepreneur who built a fortune in telecommunications before entering politics, Lamothe became Foreign Minister in October 2011 under the newly elected Martelly, a former kompa star whose populist charisma propelled him to the presidency. By May 2012, Lamothe had ascended to Prime Minister, tasked with steering Haiti’s post-earthquake recovery amid donor fatigue and domestic unrest.
Their duo symbolized a modern, outward-facing Haiti: Martelly’s showman flair paired with Lamothe’s Silicon Valley polish. Together, they wooed international investors, launched reconstruction projects, and even flirted with blockchain innovations—Lamothe keynoted at Davos in 2018 on the topic. But beneath the glamour, tensions simmered. Lamothe’s 2014 resignation came amid massive street protests over alleged electoral fraud and fuel shortages, with critics accusing the duo of authoritarian tendencies.
Lamothe attempted a presidential run in 2015 to succeed Martelly but was barred by electoral authorities for lacking a formal “discharge” from his prior role. Whispers of betrayal echoed even then, with some analysts suggesting parliamentary maneuvers aimed to drive a wedge between the allies.
Sanctions, Gangs, and the Shadow of Moïse’s Murder
The post-Moïse assassination era has only deepened the divide. Both men have been dogged by international sanctions: Canada targeted Lamothe in 2022 and Martelly in 2024 for alleged corruption and gang ties, followed by U.S. measures in 2023 (Lamothe) and 2024 (Martelly). A 2024 Haitian judicial probe even issued arrest warrants for both, alongside other ex-officials, over embezzlement and misuse of PetroCaribe funds.
Lamothe’s post hints at deeper grievances tied to the July 7, 2021, assassination that plunged Haiti into chaos. Moïse, extended in office by Martelly’s allies amid delayed elections, was gunned down in his bedroom by a squad of Colombian mercenaries. The plot’s tentacles reached into elite circles, with accusations flying toward former leaders for complicity or negligence. Lamothe, who had distanced himself years earlier, now frames the event as the final nail in his alliance with Martelly.
A Reckoning for Haiti’s Political Elite?
Lamothe’s mea culpa arrives as Haiti teeters on the brink. Gangs control 80% of the capital, transitional Prime Minister Garry Conille struggles to hold a grip, and elections—promised for 2026—remain a distant mirage. The former PM, now a global entrepreneur based partly in Miami, positions himself as a reformed voice: “I stayed loyal too long,” he wrote, urging Haitians to learn from past errors.
Critics dismiss the post as opportunistic theater, timed perhaps to burnish Lamothe’s image ahead of potential political re-entry. Supporters see it as cathartic accountability from a man who, like many, got burned by the PHTK party’s (Martelly’s old vehicle) internal machinations.
Whatever the motive, the break underscores Haiti’s enduring curse: alliances forged in ambition, shattered by survival. As Lamothe pivots to business ventures—from telecoms to philanthropy—Haiti yearns for leaders who prioritize nation over ego.
Will Martelly fire back? For now, the silence is deafening. But in Haitian politics, nothing stays buried forever.
L’Union Suite will track reactions and updates as they emerge. What do you think—redemption or revisionism? Sound off below.
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