Haiti's foreign minister summoned the French ambassador on Thursday to address what the ministry described as "unfriendly and inappropriate" remarks made by French President Emmanuel

Macron. The comments, made during Macron's departure from the G20 summit in Brazil, have ignited outrage in the Caribbean nation.

On Wednesday, Macron criticized the Haitian transitional presidential council's decision to remove Prime Minister Garry Conille earlier this month, calling it "completely dumb" amidst escalating gang violence in the country. Macron was filmed in Brazil stating, "Honestly, it is Haitians who killed Haiti by letting in drug trafficking," and praised Conille, ousted due to tensions with the council, as a "great leader."

Macron added, "They are completely dumb, they should never have fired him," sparking a wave of condemnation in Haiti, a nation with a fraught historical relationship with France. Haiti, once a French colony, gained independence in 1804 after overthrowing slavery but was forced to pay France a "debt" for lost property—including enslaved individuals—over more than a century. Activists claim this payment, estimated at over $100 billion in today’s terms, has significantly contributed to Haiti's enduring economic and political challenges. Some are now demanding French reparations.

The removal of Conille, a former U.N. official who had assumed the role of prime minister earlier this year, further destabilized Haiti’s leadership. He was replaced by entrepreneur and former senate candidate Alix Didier Fils-Aime, deepening political uncertainty in a nation already grappling with severe food insecurity affecting nearly half its population.

Haiti's transitional presidential council, tasked with restoring security and preparing for elections, has faced accusations of corruption against three of its members, who remain in their positions. The nation continues to be plagued by fragmented leadership and widespread violence.

While speaking in Chile on Thursday, Macron appeared to moderate his stance, pledging that "France will never turn its face from a crisis... There will never be a double standard in the face of tragedy, be it in Haiti, Venezuela, or at the gates of Europe."

France has committed 4 million euros ($4.2 million) to a U.N.-backed security mission aimed at restoring order in Haiti, along with funding for French and Creole language training for its troops.

Following the meeting with Haiti’s foreign minister, French Ambassador Antoine Michon reaffirmed France's support for Haiti, emphasizing its commitment to helping the country stabilize its security situation and conduct credible elections. Photo by U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Meranda Keller, Wikimedia commons.