Wilner Joseph claims that Dessalines was born in Gonaïves

Wilner Viktwa-PHTK Joseph, presidential candidate under the VIKTWA banner, recently stated at a public event that "Jean-Jacques Dessalines was born in Gonaïves!" This declaration, which elicited laughter from the audience and a pedagogical intervention by the host, was reported in a satirical sketch published on Rezo Nòdwès. According to the same site, Joseph attempted to establish Dessalines' birthplace as Gonaïves by invoking his current presence in this city.

On September 16, 2026, Wilner Joseph officially registered with the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) to run in the presidential elections. This registration follows five days after his designation as VIKTWA's candidate at an internal primary where he received 39 votes compared to three for Jean Nerva Siméon, according to results communicated by the coalition.

The host of the public event noted that Dessalines' birthplace is generally given as Cormiers, near Grande-Rivière-du-Nord. He also reminded that a declaration of independence is not a birth certificate.

Political Context

Wilner Joseph registers in the electoral process as the security situation in Haiti remains worrisome, raising doubts about whether the electoral calendar can be respected without significant improvements in security conditions.