November 2019 brought no resolution to Haiti’s political crisis, with protests continuing at a lower but persistent level and the country’s economic indicators deteriorating further as the cumulative damage of months of instability continued to compound. The gourde hovered near historic lows, inflation remained above 20 percent, and unemployment figures that were already among the highest in the hemisphere continued to worsen.
Protest organizers kept the pressure on through regular demonstrations, though the massive mobilizations of the July-August period had given way to smaller, more frequent actions designed to maintain political visibility without the economic devastation caused by extended shutdowns. The tactical evolution reflected both the pragmatic recognition that complete lockdowns hurt the movement’s popular support and the organizational challenge of sustaining mobilization over months.
The Moïse government continued to govern by decree, with no legislative body functioning and no clear path to elections. International pressure for a political solution was maintained but had not produced results. The OAS and Core Group continued to call for dialogue, and several new mediation proposals were floated, but the fundamental impasse persisted.
For ordinary Haitians entering the eleventh month of the crisis, the combination of political uncertainty, economic hardship, and security deterioration was taking an increasing psychological toll. Surveys of attitudes in Port-au-Prince found high levels of anxiety, depression, and — most concerning for the long-term — a growing sense of hopelessness about whether things would ever improve.