The raid against gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, also known as "Barbecue," reflects the urgent need for security in Port-au-Prince amid soaring violence and humanitarian crises.
Haiti's Police Intensify Operations Against Gang Leader in Port-au-Prince
Haiti's Police Intensify Operations Against Gang Leader in Port-au-Prince
Government forces target notorious gang strongholds to restore order in the capital.
In a bold move against rampant gang violence, the Haitian government has dispatched police to launch a significant operation in a shantytown dominated by the infamous gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, popularly known as Barbecue. This initiative comes amidst rising chaos as gangs exert considerable control over Port-au-Prince, leading to a prevailing breakdown of law and order.
Several gang members reportedly lost their lives during the confrontation in the Lower Delmas neighborhood. In an escalation of tactics, local authorities have utilized military drones equipped with explosives during the operation. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé lauded the assault, emphasizing that it was carried out by a new special task force specifically established to confront escalating insecurity within the region.
Chérizier, 47, sits at the helm of the gang coalition known as Viv Ansam ("Live Together"), which holds sway over vast portions of the capital. The involvement of Kenyan police officers, who were deployed to Haiti last year to assist in combating gang activity, in this operation remains uncertain. This follows a grim incident last week where a Kenyan police officer was killed while on patrol during a clash with gang members.
The escalating control of gangs in Port-au-Prince has had dire consequences, resulting in an almost total collapse of public safety, interruption of health services, and severe food insecurity affecting the populace. Reports indicate that over 5,500 individuals lost their lives due to gang-related violence in Haiti in 2024 alone, and more than one million residents have been displaced from their homes. Meanwhile, Haiti's transitional presidential council, tasked with restoring democratic norms, has made minimal headway in organizing long-overdue elections amidst ongoing turmoil.
Several gang members reportedly lost their lives during the confrontation in the Lower Delmas neighborhood. In an escalation of tactics, local authorities have utilized military drones equipped with explosives during the operation. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé lauded the assault, emphasizing that it was carried out by a new special task force specifically established to confront escalating insecurity within the region.
Chérizier, 47, sits at the helm of the gang coalition known as Viv Ansam ("Live Together"), which holds sway over vast portions of the capital. The involvement of Kenyan police officers, who were deployed to Haiti last year to assist in combating gang activity, in this operation remains uncertain. This follows a grim incident last week where a Kenyan police officer was killed while on patrol during a clash with gang members.
The escalating control of gangs in Port-au-Prince has had dire consequences, resulting in an almost total collapse of public safety, interruption of health services, and severe food insecurity affecting the populace. Reports indicate that over 5,500 individuals lost their lives due to gang-related violence in Haiti in 2024 alone, and more than one million residents have been displaced from their homes. Meanwhile, Haiti's transitional presidential council, tasked with restoring democratic norms, has made minimal headway in organizing long-overdue elections amidst ongoing turmoil.
