In 2016, Haiti, the world's first free black republic, relying on Article 29 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, notified the then Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission of its intention to be admitted as a member of the Union. 

According to Article 29 (referred to above), admissions shall be decided by a simple majority of AU Member States.

But not long after, the Commission, without relying on the presence of absence of a simple majority decision of AU Member States, announced that Haiti would Not be admitted as an African Union Member State at the AU’s 2016 Summit because 'only African countries can join the AU’. This suggests that Haiti, the world's first free black republic, is not an African country and therefore isn't qualified. 

But we strongly disagree because even if the AU Commission argues that Haiti, the first free black republic is not geographically on the African Continent, under AU Law, it is legally in the African Continent and fully qualified. This is due to the provisions of Article 3(q) of the Protocol on the Amendments to the Constitutive Act of the African Union. 

This disappointment came despite the African connection of about 95% of Haitians whose ancestors were victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and therefore needed that admission.

If the Chairperson of the AU Commission had transmitted Haiti’s notification, and it had been accepted by a simple majority of AU Member States, Haiti would also have been free to join the AU’s free trade area, the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA. 

We urge the esteemed Chairperson of the AU Commission to emulate the General Secretariat of the Arab League which has judiciously adhered to Article 1 of the Charter of the League of Arab States: And as a result, several esteemed North African States are bonafide Members of the Arab League, despite not being geographically situated in the Arabian Peninsula.

We urge the Chairperson to emulate the body politic of the United States of America: Although the US State of Hawaii is not geographically situated in the Continental United States, US citizens born in Hawaii are accorded their full rights as citizens. An example is the case of Barak Hussein Obama who became US President.

In light of the above, we call upon all individuals who believe in the inalienable right of Peoples to development, and the right of all individuals to equity and nondiscrimination to join this cause by signing this petition.

We urge the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf to immediately transmit copies of Haiti’s notification to all Member States for their decision.

Please sign this petition now!