Operation Uphold Democracy

Operation Uphold Democracy was a multinational military intervention in Haiti designed to remove the military regime led and installed by Raoul Cédras after the 1991 coup d'état overthrew the elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The operation was effectively authorized by the 31 July 1994 United Nations Security Council Resolution 940, which approved the use of force to restore the Aristide government.

After Jean-Bertrand Aristide became Haiti's first freely-elected president in 1990 and was overthrown in 1991, the United States, in cooperation with the Organization of American States, imposed economic sanctions to pressure the military junta to restore democracy. Negotiations brokered by the UN and the OAS in 1993 led to some progress towards this but were ultimately unsuccessful. After that the U.S. followed a dual strategy of preparing for an intervention while hoping it would pressure the regime to give up power. It also sought diplomatic support at the UN, which led to Resolution 940—the first time that the UN authorized the use of force to restore democracy.

Military preparations for Operation Uphold Democracy were completed in September 1994, with 25,000 troops and two aircraft carriers from the U.S. Armed Forces assigned to the mission. The operation began on 19 September, although two days before that several U.S. officials arrived in Haiti for negotiations, led by Jimmy Carter. The military regime then agreed to give up power, causing the operation to suddenly turn from a forced entry to ensuring a peaceful transition of power and a new election. Cédras met with Hugh Shelton, the commander of the U.S. forces, on 20 September, and Aristide returned to the country on 15 October. The U.S. was part of a Multinational Force in Haiti that also included troops and assets from several other countries. The Multinational Force turned over command to the United Nations Mission in Haiti on 31 March 1995. The U.S. military was at the core and in command of both.