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Tontons Macoutes

Haitian paramilitary organization

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The Tontons Macoutes were a paramilitary group organized in Haiti by President François Duvalier in 1958. Also known as the "Bogeymen," this force was created to terrorize and assassinate those perceived as enemies of Duvalier's regime. By the mid-1980s, the Tontons Macoutes had grown to approximately 15,000 members, but they were unable to suppress widespread demonstrations against unemployment, poor living conditions, and the lack of political freedom. The organization was instrumental in maintaining Duvalier's authoritarian rule, which was characterized by widespread human rights abuses and political repression.12

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