As Haiti descends deeper into crisis, spiritual leader Marc Arthur Drouillard calls for dialogue with Viv Ansanm, sparking debate over whether the controversial coalition could be the key to liberation—or a dangerous gamble.
Politics | The Haitian Pulse Editorial Team | July 3, 2025
Haiti’s descent into chaos has been long and painful. Gangs rule vast stretches of Port-au-Prince. Corruption runs deep in the veins of state institutions. And international interventions have come and gone, leaving little but disillusionment in their wake. In the midst of this turmoil, a spiritual broadcaster and cabbalist, Marc Arthur Drouillard, has emerged as an unexpected voice urging Haitians to reconsider their approach to the power structures dominating the country.
The Voice of a Spiritual Guide
Through his platform, Ayiti Reveye on the Ramad Show Channel, Drouillard has built a following among Haitians at home and in the diaspora. Blending Kabbalah, Vodou, astrology, and Haitian cultural history, he has called on his audience to “wake up from the deep sleep” he believes has paralyzed the nation. Many see Drouillard as a uniquely knowledgeable figure whose prophecies have often proven accurate, earning him a reputation as both a spiritual guide and a sharp observer of Haitian and International affairs.
His latest message is his boldest yet: an appeal for Haitians to engage in dialogue with the Viv Ansanm coalition, a network of heavily armed groups that now controls over 85% of the population in Port-au-Prince. To many, this call is controversial, even dangerous. To others, it offers the first glimmer of hope in a landscape where the traditional avenues of reform have failed.
“Haiti cannot heal through silence. We must open ourselves to dialogue, even with those we once called enemies, if we are to confront the corrupt system that has enslaved us for generations.” — Marc Arthur Drouillard
The Rise and Transformation of Viv Ansanm
The Viv Ansanm coalition did not appear overnight. Born from Haiti’s slums, its leaders and members were once abandoned children—products of poverty and neglect. For years, they served as instruments of political elites, the private sector, and even foreign interests, used to terrorize communities and secure control for their masters. They engaged in kidnapping, drug trafficking, and extortion—not for themselves but to protect and enrich their masters.
But one day, they woke up. They decided to break away from the corrupt power structures, to stop working for others, and to keep their own bags. Armed with sophisticated weapons supplied through their former connections, they began consolidating their power. They collected tolls on roads, taxed local commerce, and facilitated contraband movements. These activities amassed enormous wealth, allowing them to purchase an arsenal estimated at over 700,000 weapons, making them arguably more powerful than Haiti’s combined security forces.
Yet the question remains: how did these groups become so powerful? Haiti does not produce guns. It is no secret that the military-grade weapons flooding Port-au-Prince arrived largely from the United States. Despite widespread awareness of this pipeline, the U.S. made no meaningful effort to block these arms shipments, raising uncomfortable questions: Was this mere negligence—or something more? Complicit?
Reports have also surfaced of constant backchannel talks between certain gang leaders and the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince. The nature and purpose of these discussions remain opaque, further fueling suspicion among Haitians about the true role of foreign powers in the country’s collapse. Complicit?
In recent months, gang leaders have declared a ceasefire and pledged to unite under the banner of Viv Ansanm (“Live Together”), presenting themselves as Haiti’s last line of defense against a state apparatus they view as irreparably compromised.
“These young men were once tools of destruction. Now they claim to want to build. The question is whether they can be trusted to transform violence into liberation.” — The Haitian Pulse Editorial Team
A Visit That Shifted the Conversation
While Haitians debate whether opening dialogue with Viv Ansanm is the right step, Haiti recently welcomed an unexpected and influential visitor: Kemi Seba, the leader of the Pan-African movement. Over a three-day visit, Seba captivated audiences with a powerful message that resonated deeply both in Haiti and among the diaspora. He focused on unmasking the global system of exploitation and urged Haitians to reconsider their perceptions of Viv Ansanm.
“Viv Ansanm are not the enemy,” Seba declared to cheering crowds. “They are a reflection of the failures of a corrupt system. If they now seek to stand with the people, we must open the door to solidarity.”
For many, Seba’s visit felt like a turning point. Social media platforms erupted with praise for his boldness and clarity, sparking renewed conversations about the possibility of unity between marginalized Haitians and the armed coalition.
A Polarizing Call for Action
Drouillard believes that Akò Bwa Kayiman, a movement inspired by Haiti’s revolutionary Bois Caïman ceremony, could channel Viv Ansanm’s power toward a broader popular uprising against corruption. He envisions this as a precursor to Akò Bwa Kale, a decisive action to uproot entrenched elites.
Yet others warn of the risks. The Trump administration, through Secretary Marco Rubio, recently designated Viv Ansanm as a terrorist organization, citing their history of violence and instability. Critics fear that any alignment with such groups could drag Haiti into deeper conflict or justify further international intervention.
Haiti’s Dilemma
Haitians are left with a haunting question: Is it possible to transform those who once inflicted so much pain into partners for liberation? Or is this simply replacing one form of oppression with another?
There are no easy answers. What is clear is that Haiti’s people have been failed—by their leaders, by international actors, and often by each other. In this vacuum, voices like Drouillard’s and Seba’s resonate, not because they offer perfect solutions, but because they dare to dream of an alternative to endless suffering.
“The Haitian people are resilient. But resilience must now evolve into unity—or risk being consumed by despair.” — The Haitian Pulse Editorial Team
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