Haiti's politics have long been directly managed by the wealthy businessmen who live in palatial style above Port-au-Prince. It was this group, backed by the military, that supported the popularly detested "Baby Doc" Duvalier regime. It is this same group that, since the overthrow of Duvalier in 1986, has financed regular coups to ensure that the 1987 democratic constitution could not be implemented.
The military last intervened in 1991, following the 1990 election of Fr. Jean-Bertrand Aristide on a populist platform. Aristide was exiled by the army and his supporters suppressed. The UN's move to impose sanctions was answered by the assassination of Haiti's justice minister. In 1994, the flood of refugees fleeing the country forced the US government to step up its action. Following a period of blockade, enforced by its warships, the army was sent in to pave the way for Aristide's return to office.
