Surrender or face inevitable force, Haiti police tell gang leader Barbecue

In a continuing effort to fight gang violence in Haiti, the Multinational Security Support (MSS) team, alongside the Haitian National Police (PNH), has intensified operations aimed at dismantling gang strongholds in Port-au-Prince.

Their focus is on Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier, a notorious gang leader, and his group, who have been wreaking havoc in several parts of the city.

In a statement released on Monday, the MSS called for the immediate surrender of Barbecue and his followers, warning that failure to comply would lead to inevitable force.

"The MSS issues a stern warning to gang leaders: surrender now or face the inevitable force that will strike them sooner than anticipated," the statement read.

On the same day, the MSS and PNH teams launched a targeted operation in the Delmas district, which led to a confrontation with Barbecue's gang.

The MSS reported that the gang, consisting of about 30 members, had split into two groups of 15, advancing toward Delmas 2 and 6.

The operation swiftly escalated, with MSS and PNH teams responding with proportional firepower that forced the gang to retreat in shock and disarray.

Suffered casualties

The gang suffered several casualties during the clash, and some members hesitated to follow the commands of their leader, showing signs of resistance to further confrontation.

The MSS and PNH teams continued their pursuit, with ongoing patrols across key areas such as Carrefour Paye, Bois Détre Jette, and Route Coloniale.

These areas, previously under gang control, have been prioritised in efforts to restore order.

In addition to combatting the gangs, the MSS and PNH have been working alongside residents to address infrastructure challenges.

In Carrefour Paye, they helped fill potholes along Route Coloniale, which had been impassable for farmers transporting goods.

The initiative has been positively received by the community, who view it as a critical step in restoring some semblance of normalcy to the area.

A significant moment came when the commissioner of Gonaives arrived with his convoy to support the efforts.

The MSS/PNH teams escorted the convoy to Liancourt, where they oversaw the reopening of the Liancourt Police Station, which had been abandoned due to escalating gang violence.

Residents erupted in jubilation as the police commissioner of Gonaive cut the ribbon to officially open the station, marking a hopeful milestone in the fight against crime.

The reopening of the station was made possible by the collaborative efforts of the MSS and the HNP, reinforcing the strong partnership between international forces and local law enforcement.

In a show of appreciation, residents immediately began cleaning and restoring the area to make it more habitable, further demonstrating their commitment to the recovery of their community.

Restoring peace

As gangs continue to terrorise parts of Haiti amid political instability, international forces, including police from Kenya, Jamaica, Bahamas, and Belize, have been deployed to assist in restoring peace.

Haiti's government has formally requested a UN peacekeeping force, with the Organisation of American States (OAS) recently adopting a resolution to support the country's request for US-led peacekeeping efforts.

In another key development, Haiti's Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé launched a major initiative on Monday to assist the thousands of displaced persons in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area.

Supported by the Inter-American Development Bank, this initiative aims to meet the urgent needs of those forced to flee their homes due to gang violence, providing a critical lifeline to many of the country's most vulnerable citizens.