A Tonton Macoute brandishing his machete

The Tonton Macoutes (singular Tonton Macoute referring to a member thereof; or Ton Ton Macoute) was a Haitian militia force under the control of François Duvalier (better known as "Papa Doc"). Created in 1959 and renamed officially in 1971 as the VSN (Volontaires de la Sécurité Nationale), the force was notorious for its widespread and brutal repression of political dissidents.

In Haiti, like other nations, at Christmas, good children are visited by Santa Claus, known locally as Uncle Christmas. The bad children are visited by Uncle Gunnysack, or Uncle Knapsack. Translated literally from Creole, Tonton (Uncle) Macoute (gunnysack). The term Tonton Macoutes is the bogeyman in Haiti.

Duvalier came to power in 1957, as a populist, freely elected. He had served as Health minister, and was noted in the fight against Typhus. After an attempted coup against him in 1958, Duvalier rewrote the Haitian constitution. In 1959, he created the force, which were granted automatic amnesty for any crime committed during any official act.

They were known for wearing dark glasses, wielding machetes, and leaving their victims hanging in a public place as a warning to others. They cultivated the image of being vodun demons or zombies.

It is alleged that the death squad continues to operate in Haiti, through 2000.

Ton-Ton Macoute! is the name of a Johnny Jenkins music album.

See also: Les Boubou Macoutes