Léon Cantave

Léon Cantave (; July 4, 1910 – February 16, 1967) was a Haitian general who served as Army Chief of Staff (1956-1957), playing an important role in the political events of 1957.

Career In 1956, President Paul Magloire attempted to extend his term, which had ended on December 6. Cantave opposed these dictatorial plans, being arrested by the Magloire regime for "inciting rebellion". On December 13, after Magloire's fall and his release, Cantave was appointed as Army Chief of Staff by the new president Joseph Nemours Pierre-Louis. As Army Chief, Cantave publicly advocated political neutrality within the Armed Forces. his soldiers did not fire a single shot at the crowd. Informed of Pierre-Louis' resignation, Cantave called the 7 presidential candidates to Headquarters to inform them of the situation. After endless debates, on February 7 the Haitian Parliament chose Franck Sylvain as provisional president, one of the declared candidates.

On April 2, Cantave forced the resignation of President Franck Sylvain and placed him under house arrest in a coup d'état, claiming that Sylvain was complicit in the civil unrest and bomb affair.

After the Executive Council ordered his dismissal in favor of police chief Pierre Armand as Army Chief, Cantave usurped power again on May 20, proclaiming the dissolution of the CEG. Over several weeks, he fought several battles with the Haitian regular army until he finally suffered a severe defeat on September 22, 1963, in an attempt to capture the Ouanaminthe barracks. Three days later, a military coup took place against Dominican President Juan Bosch, with a junta succeeding him. Cantave was held in detention by the Dominican junta, but he was eventually allowed into exile. Cantave died in exile in France on February 16, 1967.