The Haitian government incurred the 'Independence Debt' to France in 1825 when Jean-Pierre Boyer signed the Royal Ordinance of Charles X (in french here but Google translate suffices for the gist) in exchange for recognition and the end of isolation. Post-independence Haiti had been quarantined by Western powers, with Haitian nationals and ships barred from most foreign ports. A French fleet lingered off the coast of Haiti during negotiations and had orders to blockade Haiti if the negotiations failed.

The terms of the ordinance were:

1. Haitian ports were to be opened to all ships of any nation for trade, with tariffs on french imports half of all others.

2. an indemnity of 150M francs to compensate the former colonists, payable in five installments.

Haiti, of course, could not afford this debt, and were compelled to receive a loan from a french bank. After a series of defaults the terms of the debt were renegotiated in 1838 in the Traite de Paix et d' Amitie de 1838 entre la France et Haiti. The remaining debt of 120M francs was reduced to 60M. After a series of interruptions in repayments, the final portion of this debt to France was paid by 1883. However, Haiti continued to owe the interest from the borrowings from French banks necessitated by the debt and would not complete its payments on that interest until 1947. Detailed valuation claims from French plantation owners formed the basis of the indemnity.