Henri Nanphy

Henri Namphy (November 2, 1932 - June 26, 2018)
Henri Namphy was a Haitian general and political figure who served as President of Haiti's interim ruling body, the National Council of Government, from February 7, 1986 to February 7, 1988.

He Once again served as President of Haiti from June 20, to September 17, 1988. He is buried in the Dominican Republic, where he was exiled after being overthrown in September 1988 by Prosper Avril.

Chief of General Staff of the Haitian Armed Forces, Brigadier General Sadrac Saintil, represented the General Staff and the Ministry of Defense as well as Antonio Rodrigue, the Minister of Foreign Affairs was also present at the funeral to represent the Haitian government.

Henri Namphy (November 2, 1932), was a former Haitian coup leader and Lieutenant General who served the country in the Armed Forces of Haiti (FADH), died in a hospital in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, following a battle with lung cancer. He served as the President of Haiti's interim ruling body, the National Council of Government, from February 7, 1986 to February 7, 1988. In February 1988, he was replaced by Leslie Manigat, elected President, who put him under arrest for insubordination. However, General Namphy's popularity and influence helped him to regain power in June 1988 where he remained until the September 1988 coup.

Namphy served as President of Haiti from June 20, 1988, but was deposed three months later on September 17, 1988 in a coup d'état when a group of non-commissioned officers in the Haitian Presidential Guard removed Namphy and brought General Prosper Avril to power. Earlier, in June 1988, Namphy overthrew Leslie Manigat in a coup d'état. Manigat was elected as President of Haiti in a tightly controlled military held election in January 1988. Following his deposition in the September coup, Namphy fled to the Dominican Republic and never returned to Haiti.

In 1986, when with the fall of his government, Jean-Claude Duvalier (appointed by his dying father as "President-for-Life") fled into exile in France with his family, Henri Namphy formed an interim government consisting six civilians and military members and promised elections and democratic reforms. However, his regime has been nicknamed as "Duvalierism without Duvalier". Namphy enjoyed the reputation of being honest and apolitical. As per his wish, he has been buried at the Cristo Redentor cemetery, Santo Domingo.

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February 07, 1986 Port-au-Prince, Haiti: Here is a picture of the members of the National Council of Haitian Government, also called military-civilian government or junta that replaced former Haitian dictator Jean-Claud Duvalier. This picture was taken during the ceremony instituting the new team. Members include: Colonel Max Valles, Colonel William Regala, Lieutenant General Henry Namphy, Alix Cineas, Gerard Gourgue, Colonel Prosper Avril.

The National Council of Government was the ruling body of Haiti from 1986 to 1988. Henri Namphy (born November 2, 1932 in Cap-Haïtien) was a political figure and Haitian general. He served as the President of Haiti's such interim ruling body, the National Council of Government, from February 7, 1986 to February 7, 1988. Again, Namphy served as the President of Haiti (from June 20, 1988 to September 17, 1988) until his deposition by a Haitian coup d'état. The National Council of Government was formed as a joint military and civilian provisional government following the exile of President for Life Jean-Claude Duvalier. The council consisted of a President, Lieutenant General Henri Namphy, and five Members, three from the military (Colonel Max Valles, Colonel Prosper Avril and Colonel William Regala) and two civilians (Maitre Gérard Gourgue and Mr. Alix Cinéas). Resignation of Gerard Gourgue on March 20, 1986, led to a commotion among this small group and a new National Council of Government was formed within a month with three members (Colonel William Regala, Mr. Jacques François from April 1987 and Me. Luc D. Hector from February 1988) and 13 ministers. This ruling body took two important measures: rehabilitation of the blue and red Haitian flag on February 17, 1986 and the dissolution of the Volunteers of National Security on February 15, 1986.

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Here is a picture of Former Haitian President Henri Namphy living in the Dominican Republic

He was born to an old established family in Cap-Haitien. General Namphy was a graduate of the Haitian Military Academy and was first commissioned as an army officer in 1954. Gradually he was promoted to Brigadier General (1981) and Lieutenant General (1984). He served as the Senior Military Commander in two of Haiti's 9 provinces, one in the southern peninsula and other in the northwest and later he became the Chief of Staff. General Namphy was ousted in a military coup in September 1988. He was arrested and escorted to the airport on a granted political asylum. He left the country with wife, Gabrielle, and his daughter, Melissa. His palace at the Champ de Mars Plaza, near the army general headquarters and the Dessalines Barracks, which housed the country's best-trained unit, was the center point of weapon fire.

He speaks Spanish, Creole, French and some English. He has been married twice and has two children. He seldom travels overseas. His favorite foods are Haitian dishes like beef and pork chunks cooked in sizzling oil. But as drinks, he prefers Johnny Walker Black Scotch than own fine rums. He loves jokes and humor, but when he is serious, he is deadly serious.

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This is the picture of Williams Regala and Henri Namphy together.

General Henri Namphy (born November 2, 1932) had been always remained on close terms with the Duvalier family during their thirty years of monarchy. There he held several key positions such as the Deputy Commander of the Presidential Guard and Chief of Staff, but all the time he had distanced himself from the worst aspects of the Duvalier dictatorship like killing and other ugliness. He had maintained a close, cordial relationship with the brutal rulers. Some acquaintances describe him more as a counselor than a close friend. However, he is considered by many as a disciplined man and a good administrator with some down-to-earth bent. Once, a foreign diplomat who worked with him in a hurricane recovery operation termed him as ''a soldier's soldier.''

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Here is a picture of Lt. Gen. Henri Namphy and Gen. Williams Regala 1988

When he went before the Haitian people to announce that he has seized power from the civilian President Leslie Manigat, there was no outpouring of admiration and support. Although he used to enjoy the reputation of being honest, his administration was rather known as "Duvalierism without Duvalier". His close acquaintances used to know him as a dedicated military man and "a great party-goer". His house always had parties, all the time and his friends were his life.

General Namphy had presided over one of the bloodiest and most chaotic periods in the recent Haitian history. The U.S government found that it was difficult to deal with General Namphy because he had failed in his every promise to restore democracy-- his attempt to hold election was better known as "debacle". He served his second term as the President from June 20, 1988 until his deposition on September 17, 1988 in a coup d'état.

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Here is a picture of Colonel Henri Nanphy of the FADH Officers

On Feb. 7, 1986, when the Haitian dictator Baby Doc after the 30 years of own family dictatorship fled the country with his family into an exile, within a few hours of his departure, a five-member civilian-military council led by Lieutenant General Henri Namphy took the charge of the country. Henri quickly established himself on the council as the "first among equals" and served as the Interim President of the Haitian Ruling Body or National Council of Government between February 7, 1986 to February 7, 1988. His government promised free elections and democratic reforms. The first attempt of the election on November 1987, ended with the death of some three dozen voters who were killed in clashes as there was no security forces at the voting places, and instead some soldiers joined civilian thugs in the killing of at least 34 voters. In January 1988, Leslie Manigat won elections, but that was widely considered as fraudulent, and Namphy by overthrowing the civilian President, seized power in June 1988.

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Grande-Rivière-du-Nord's Rich Heritage as you are looking at

former Haitian military leader Henri Namphy who was born in Grande-Riviere-du-Nord

Grande-Rivière-du-Nord is a repository of historical events, people, and remnants of its past.

Gallifet Sugar Plantation was the site of a Voodoo incantation, leading to the Haiti Slave Rebellion. A few miles away sits military fortress, Citadel Laferriere, which housed battle contingents.

Grande Rivière gave birth to several rulers including Jean-Jacques Dessalines. Pioneering ethnologist, Jean Price Mars, was also born there.

One fact the town can boast of is a significant number of centenarians, one of few places in Haiti where they exist.

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