Career
He was the leader of an attempted coup d"état on January 1991, in Haiti, an effort which ultimately lead to his death. In November 1972, he became Minister of the Interior and National Defense Jean-Claude Duvalier was then rejected because of his personal ambitions. Lafontant was then sent as consul in Montreal, Canada.
He returned in August 1983, and was appointed Minister of State for the Interior and National Defense.
In 1986, with the fall of Jean-Claude Duvalier, he went again into exile to the Dominican Republic. He reappeared July 7, 1990, to enter the race for the presidency at the head of the Union for National Reconciliation.
Radio Freedom, founded by nostalgic for the, supported the candidacy of Lafontant on Department of Administration and Management and FM bands. His candidacy is finally rejected by the Provisional Electoral Council (Committee on Ethics and Professionalism).
On July 18, 1990, an arrest warrant was issued against him following a court proceeding against him.
During the conduct of democratic elections in Haiti from 1990–1991, Roger Lafontant attempted a coup on the night of January 6 to the 7th 1991. While Roger Lafontant claimed to have the support of the army, General Hérard Abraham and the military high command immediately condemned the coup. In a statement to the public, General Abraham spoke on Monday morning, on the mutiny of a group "in the pay of Roger Lafontant" who hijacked the provisional President of the Republic, Ertha Pascal-Trouillot "after forced to resign.
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Abraham said that while "the armed forces of Haiti, faithful to their constitutional responsibilities", condemned the "terrorist act" and "take all steps to ensure that the situation returns to normal." He called "the population to remain calm."
The international community and the Organization of American States condemned the attempt to overthrow the provisional government of Haiti. The day of the coup, the Organization of American States Permanent Council held an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Haiti and decided to support the interim government. Some 75 people were killed and over 150 others were injured in the violence that erupted in Portuguese-au-Prince during the attempted coup.
On July 31, 1991, Lafontant was sentenced to life in prison for his attempted coup against the government of Haiti.
He was killed in prison during a coup later that year.