Video: John Legend & Anseye Pou Ayiti: Why Haiti Matters

Former Haitian President Michel Joseph Martelly on Friday submitted the documents supporting his candidacy for the presidency under the DEBLOKE political banner. The former head of state (2011–2016), widely known by his stage name Sweet Micky, was accompanied by a team of lawyers and a large crowd of supporters who gathered to show their backing as he completed the formalities at the Bureau Électoral Départemental (BED) de l’Ouest 1. The filing follows Martelly’s earlier online registration with the Conseil Électoral Provisoire (CEP). Depositing the physical documents is a required step in the process; final validation rests with electoral authorities and is not automatic. Haiti’s general elections are scheduled for December 13, 2026, the first in more than a decade. Martelly’s return to the political arena comes against a backdrop of international sanctions. The United States (via OFAC in 2024), Canada, and the European Union have imposed measures citing alleged links to drug trafficking, money laundering, gangs, violence, and human-rights issues. Haiti’s Unité de Lutte Contre la Corruption (ULCC) has also recommended legal action related to asset declarations. Recent changes to electoral rules removed a central-bank certificate requirement that had been viewed as a barrier for individuals under sanctions. DEBLOKE, the platform under which he is running, brings together multiple parties and includes former PHTK figures. Other presidential hopefuls who have registered include former provisional president Jocelerme Privert, former prime minister Claude Joseph, and others. As of mid-October, roughly 16 presidential candidates had completed preliminary registration. Martelly, who has spent time outside Haiti is seeking a second term more than a decade after leaving office. His filing has generated significant discussion on social media, reflecting the strong reactions his political return continues to provoke among Haitians at home and in the diaspora. Electoral authorities will now review the submitted materials before determining the official list of validated candidates. Sources: @clarens_siffroy | @passioninfoplus #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian

More than a concert, it was a celebration of Haitian music, culture, and community!⁠ 🇭🇹⁠ ⁠ @Rogersburgersnyc, a Caribbean-American burger brand founded by Haitian American entrepreneurs Jonathan Pierre-Lafleur and Josue Pierre, sponsored BélO’s sold-out performance at Joe’s Pub on October 14, bringing together more than 30 invited guests, including community leaders, artists, activists, media, and nonprofit representatives.⁠ ⁠ Before the concert, BélO stopped by Rogers Burgers in Flatbush to meet the co-founders, connect with local fans, and taste the restaurant’s signature Burger Créole, part of a menu recognized by The New York Times among its 19 Best Burgers in NYC.⁠ ⁠ The evening also featured a special recognition as BélO received a New York City Council Citation from Council Member Farah N. Louis, presented by Democratic State Committeeman and Rogers Burgers co-founder Josue Pierre, honoring his contributions to Haitian music, culture, and community.⁠ ⁠ From the restaurant in Flatbush to the stage at Joe’s Pub, the celebration reflected the power of Haitian culture and what happens when local businesses invest in their communities. ⁠ ⁠ 📸: @mcalexanderciceron⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #lunionsuitepartners #AD

The drought is over!! Frederick Richard etched his name into gymnastics history on Saturday, winning the men’s floor exercise gold medal at the 2026 World Championships and becoming the first American man to claim the world title on floor since Paul Hamm shared gold in 2003. The 22-year-old Massachusetts native and University of Michigan product scored a commanding 14.633, edging defending world champion Jake Jarman of Great Britain (14.600) by a razor-thin 0.033 points. Olympic floor champion Artem Dolgopyat of Israel took bronze with 14.466. Richard’s powerful, clean routine, clean flairs, and a stuck finish, delivered the highest execution score of the final and sealed his first individual world title in front of a roaring Ahoy arena crowd that included legendary U.S. gymnast Simone Biles watching from the stands. This victory adds to an already historic résumé. Richard, the youngest American man to win an individual World Championships medal, took all-around bronze at the 2023 Worlds in Antwerp and helped the U.S. men’s team win bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, ending a long medal drought for American men. He is also a multiple NCAA champion and the 2026 U.S. all-around and floor champion. @Frederickflips roots run deep in the Caribbean. His father, Carl Richard, is Haitian, and his mother, Ann-Marie Richard, is from Dominica. Born in Boston and raised in Stoughton, Massachusetts, Richard has spoken openly about the strength he draws from his family’s immigrant journey and the pride he feels representing both the United States and his Haitian heritage on the world stage. In a sport where Black male gymnasts remain underrepresented at the elite level, his success continues to inspire a new generation of athletes across the Haitian and broader Caribbean diaspora. After the competition, Richard reflected on the mindset that carried him: “I hope this is a lesson to everybody that you don’t have to wait to get the win to say you will be a champion. You don’t have to know when it’s going to happen or how it’s going to happen, but believing it every second of every day does pay off. I’m proof of that now.” 🎥 @Nbcolympics #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

El Salvador has reportedly increased its military presence in Haiti to 450 personnel as efforts continue to locate four Salvadoran aviation technicians who disappeared following a gang attack in Croix-des-Bouquets. According to Haitian newspaper Le Nouvelliste, the number reached 450 on Friday evening, October 23, 2026, after another aircraft arrived in Port-au-Prince carrying 100 Salvadoran soldiers. The reinforcements are expected to support the international Gang Suppression Force (GSF) and the Haitian National Police (PNH) in their ongoing search and security operations. The four missing men were serving with the international mission when their vehicle came under attack on Sunday, October 18, in the Santo area of Croix-des-Bouquets. Their vehicle was reportedly hit by gunfire and explosives before catching fire. The men escaped, but communication with them was lost. El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has since announced a military operation to bring the four men home safely. He warned armed groups that a stronger response would follow if the technicians were not released alive and unharmed. The search has intensified across the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac, where armed gangs continue to pose a serious threat to residents and security forces. As of the latest reports, the four Salvadorans remain missing, and their condition has not been publicly confirmed. The deployment comes as Haiti and its international partners continue efforts to regain control of areas affected by gang violence. #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

Meanwhile in Florida. A life-sized statue of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, titled “Denial,” began melting shortly after its unveiling in Tallahassee earlier this month, its face giving way to a skull underneath. The installation, cast entirely in gallium (a metal that melts at about 85.6°F / 29.8°C), was designed to dissolve in Florida’s heat as a pointed critique of the governor’s record on climate change.⁠ ⁠ Rachel Maddow covered the artwork on her show, framing it as DeSantis’ climate policies colliding with Florida’s actual weather. The piece was created by climate advocacy group 350 Action, advertising agency Uncommon Creative Studio, and production company M ss ng P eces. It was unveiled around October 13 at Prime Meridian Plaza in the state capital, where temperatures reached 90°F, well above gallium’s melting point and enough for the statue’s features to drip away over the course of roughly 30–60 minutes, leaving a skeletal figure in a business suit.⁠ ⁠ A plaque at the base quotes DeSantis (“I am not a global warming person”) and references House Bill 1645, the 2024 energy law he signed that removed numerous references to “climate change” and greenhouse gas emissions from Florida statutes. The legislation also restricted certain local climate policies, limited wind energy development near the coast, and shifted priorities toward energy reliability and affordability over emissions reductions. Organizers described the melting monument as a visual response to those choices: a figure associated with rolling back climate language confronted by a material that cannot negotiate with temperature.⁠ ⁠ The installation arrives as DeSantis approaches the end of his second term in January 2027, with Florida voters set to choose his successor on November 3. 350 Action and its partners have framed “Denial” as a call for voters who prioritize climate issues to reject candidates they view as deniers and to support stronger action.As Maddow’s segment and widespread photos illustrated, the statue’s face cracked and dripped, exposing what was underneath before the metal pooled at its base.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ 🎥 @RachelMaddow ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

Kid Cudi is taking the long-requested role of Jean-Michel Basquiat into his own hands. On Instagram, the rapper, actor, and filmmaker (Scott Mescudi) announced JEAN, a film he wrote, is directing, and will star in, with filming set for 2027.⁠ ⁠ “For years people have asked me about playing Jean Michel Basquiat in a film. But no project actually came to be. This year, I finally said fuck it, ima write it myself,” Cudi posted. He shared wardrobe test photos, including a rough version of a wig, and wrote: “This isnt the final just a rough, trust me we gon get it perfect.” He described the project as one he is “so proud of and excited about.”⁠ ⁠ Writing about a real person was “a challenge, but it was a welcomed one,” he said. “A lot of research, books, talks with people that knew him. This film will be a love letter to Jean, the 80s and NY city. Jean has inspired me all through out my career, and it will be the biggest honor to tell his story in a way we haven’t seen before.” He closed by dedicating it to dreamers: “I know a lot of yall gon be like FINALLY hahaha I love it. This ones for all those dreamers out there.”⁠ ⁠ Basquiat (1960–1988), the Brooklyn-born Neo-Expressionist painter and former graffiti artist (under the tag SAMO), remains one of the most influential figures of the 1980s New York art scene. Of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent, his father, Gérard, was a Haitian immigrant from Port-au-Prince, and his mother, Matilde, was of Puerto Rican heritage, he drew on themes of race, class, power, history, and identity. Elements linked to Haitian culture, including references associated with Vodou. He rose rapidly from downtown graffiti and street presence to international gallery success before his death at age 27.⁠ ⁠ The announcement arrives amid other Basquiat-related projects, including Julian Schnabel’s 1996 film Basquiat, a Netflix documentary approved by the artist’s estate, and additional narrative efforts in various stages. Cudi’s version is framed as a personal love letter grounded in research and conversations with people who knew the artist, rather than waiting for another project to cast him. ⁠ ⁠ 📸 @KidCudi⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele sent 100 special forces soldiers to Haiti on Thursday, October 22, to join the search for four Salvadoran military personnel who have been missing since a gang ambush on Sunday, October 18, the Miami Herald reported. Sources familiar with the deployment told the Herald that another 100 troops could follow and that the current move is only the beginning.⁠ ⁠ The four men, aviation technicians with El Salvador’s contingent in the United Nations-authorized Gang Suppression Force, were attacked while returning to base in an armored white Toyota Land Cruiser after visiting a supermarket in the Santo 19 area of Croix-des-Bouquets. Heavily armed members of the Chen Mechan gang, with reported support from 400 Mawozo, fired on the vehicle, hit it with multiple rounds, and then set it on fire with an explosive device. El Salvador’s Armed Forces said the four managed to escape the burning vehicle, but contact with them has not been reestablished and search operations continue.⁠ ⁠ Bukele announced Wednesday on social media that additional Salvadoran troops would be sent to help locate the missing personnel. He stressed that the men are pilots and technical staff whose primary role is medical evacuations and support rather than combat, and he warned gang leaders that failure to return them alive and unharmed would trigger a stronger response. ⁠ Residents in the Santo and Croix-des-Bouquets areas described intense gunfire and helicopter activity on Thursday as international forces operated across the Cul-de-Sac Plain, according to the Miami Herald. The incident is the first major attack on Gang Suppression Force personnel since the mission began deploying earlier this year and the first involving soldiers who were not actively engaged in combat at the time of the ambush.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

Dominican personality Santiago Matías, widely known as Alofoke publicly offered support for a full-scale invasion of the Haitian side of Hispaniola. In a post on X, Matías addressed Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele directly, writing in Spanish: “President @nayibbukele from the Dominican Republic we support you for any complete invasion of the Haitian side of the island. Thousands of Dominicans are willing to face the gangs on our own accord and with our weapons.”⁠ ⁠ The statement comes amid Bukele’s announcement of a military operation to rescue four Salvadoran aviation technicians kidnapped by Haitian gangs. In a message posted in Kreyol, Bukele warned gang leaders that the current operation was only the beginning if the hostages were not returned alive and unharmed, noting that El Salvador had already dismantled its own gangs.⁠ ⁠ Matías’s latest comments are consistent with a series of earlier posts this month in which he advocated invading Haiti, controlling the entire island, installing hotels on its beaches, controlling commerce, and turning Haitians into “our slaves as they are in this part of the island.” Those remarks, first reported by Dominican outlets and later covered internationally, drew significant backlash and debate online, particularly after Haiti’s recent football victory over the Dominican Republic.⁠ ⁠ Reactions to Matías’s post have been mixed, with some Dominican users expressing support or skepticism about the practicality of civilian involvement, and others criticizing the rhetoric as inflammatory. ⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian

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CONCACAF has approved an exceptional hosting arrangement for the Haitian Football Federation (FHF), allowing Haiti’s designated home matches in sanctioned competitions to be played in the territory of opponents rather than being restricted to the Caribbean region. The decision, announced Thursday, follows a formal request from the FHF prompted by the ongoing security situation in Haiti. Under the arrangement, each match still requires separate approval from CONCACAF Administration, agreement from the opposing member association, and confirmation that the stadium meets CONCACAF guidelines. The measure extends to Haitian clubs, remains in place for as long as security conditions persist, and is subject to ongoing review, it can be amended or withdrawn by the CONCACAF Council at any time. The first application of the rule has been approved for Haiti’s home-designated quarterfinal match against the United States in the 2026/27 CONCACAF Nations League. Originally set for Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, on November 14, the match will now take place at Nu Stadium in Miami, Florida, with a 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff. The second leg at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, remains unchanged. Nu Stadium, the new 26,700-seat home of Inter Miami CF at Miami Freedom Park, already hosted a sold-out Haiti vs. Peru friendly in June 2026, drawing strong support from South Florida’s large Haitian diaspora. Haiti has been unable to stage official international matches on its own soil since mid-2021 amid the security crisis in Port-au-Prince, where gangs control large portions of the capital, including the area around the national stadium (Stade Sylvio Cator). The team has instead used approved neutral venues in the Caribbean in line with standard CONCACAF regulations. For Haitian fans in South Florida and beyond, the move turns a logistical necessity into an opportunity. The Grenadiers will have the chance to compete in front of a passionate local crowd in a modern stadium rather than a distant Caribbean venue with limited attendance. The second leg remains in Cincinnati, meaning both legs of the quarterfinal series will now be played on U.S. soil. #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

The Government of the Republic of Haiti has confirmed that the kidnapping of Salvadoran soldiers on Sunday, October 18, is an absolute priority for state authorities and has ordered a full mobilization of resources to secure their release.⁠ ⁠ In a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the government stated that a high-level meeting was held under the coordination of the Head of Government with relevant security officials. The session assessed ongoing operations and determined additional measures needed to strengthen the response in close collaboration with the Gang Repression Force (FRG / GSF).⁠ ⁠ “The Government is fully mobilized and intends to assert the authority of the State with the utmost firmness in the face of armed groups,” the statement read. “The release of the abducted soldiers is an absolute priority, and all necessary resources are being mobilized to achieve this objective.”⁠ ⁠ Security forces continue resolute operations aimed at both the safe recovery of the soldiers and the protection of civilian lives. The government reaffirmed that it will see the operations through to their conclusion and uphold the authority of the State against armed groups.⁠ ⁠ The four Salvadoran personnel, identified as aviation technicians attached to the United Nations-backed Gang Suppression Force, went missing after their armored vehicle was ambushed with gunfire and explosives in the Santo area of Croix-des-Bouquets while returning toward their base. They escaped the burning vehicle but contact was lost amid heavy fighting in the area. The incident marked the first major attack on the international force since it began operations.⁠ ⁠ El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has separately stated that Haitian gangs are holding the four men and that he has launched a military operation to secure their release unharmed, warning of a stronger response if they are not freed.⁠ ⁠ Haitian authorities emphasized that the state’s response remains fully engaged and that every necessary measure will continue until the soldiers are recovered and state authority is reinforced.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele said Wednesday he has launched a military operation to rescue four Salvadoran aviation technicians held hostage by gangs in Haiti, warning that failure to release them alive would trigger a far stronger response.⁠ ⁠ In a message posted on X and written in Kreyol, Bukele addressed gang leaders directly. He said the men “are not combatants” but aviation technicians serving with an international mission whose primary work is medical evacuations and saving lives, “not to wage war.” ⁠ ⁠ “Today, we have launched a military operation to rescue them,” Bukele wrote. “We have a single objective: to bring our four compatriots back home alive, without any harm.” He added that “today’s attack is nothing compared to what is coming” if all four are not returned alive, and told the gangs not to treat his words as empty threats.⁠ ⁠ He offered an off-ramp, saying that if the men are returned unharmed, “everything will go back to how it was before the kidnapping.”⁠ ⁠ The four technicians disappeared after an ambush on Sunday in the Santo area of Croix-des-Bouquets, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. Salvadoran military officials said their armored vehicle was hit by gunfire and explosives, caught fire, and the men fled. They have not been accounted for since.⁠ ⁠ The attack was the first major strike against the international Gang Suppression Force (GSF) since the force began operating in Haiti. The GSF is a United Nations-backed multinational mission authorized by the UN Security Council to support Haitian police against armed gangs. It includes personnel from El Salvador, Chad, Jamaica, Guatemala and other countries.⁠ ⁠ Haiti’s government has described the recovery of the four Salvadorans as an “absolute priority.” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz also warned the gangs that attempts to intimidate the international coalition would be a “terrible mistake.” No group has claimed responsibility for the ambush, and fighting in the area has complicated earlier recovery efforts. It was not immediately clear whether Haitian authorities had confirmed the men were still alive.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian