Offensive against gangs in Haiti: "Barbecue" house destroyed by drone
Haitian security forces are conducting a large-scale anti-gang campaign in Port-au-Prince, targeting notably the leader of the "Viv ansanm" gang coalition.
Haiti intensifies operations against gangs in the capital
Haitian security forces have launched a broad offensive against criminal gangs in Port-au-Prince, according to la1ere.franceinfo.fr. One of the most significant strikes targeted the residence of Jimmy Cherizier, known as "Barbecue", leader of the "Viv ansanm" gang coalition and one of the principal figures responsible for the violence ravaging the country.
A drone attack, carried out on Wednesday 14 January in the capital, destroyed one of this gang leader's residences. "The targeted operation allowed us to destroy his house and minimise any possibility of his group's return to the area," declared Frantz Lerebours, spokesman for the Haitian national police, to AFP.
Drone explosions now resound throughout the day in downtown Port-au-Prince, as observed on the ground by an AFP journalist. Police operations are being conducted daily there, with the support of an anti-gang force that replaces the United Nations multinational mission and a private security company.
The Haitian police said they are confident in their ability to "regain control of the capital in the short term", thanks to a series of "intensive operations" conducted since late December. "We are conducting secured patrols in these zones. This was not possible for several years," added Lerebours.
A country in the grip of gangs for years
Haiti has suffered for several years from the violence of criminal bands that commit murders, rapes, looting and kidnappings. The situation worsened in early 2024, when Prime Minister Ariel Henry was forced to resign by armed groups.
The country, which has not held elections since 2016, is governed by transitional authorities. These have struggled to stem the violence, but have announced the holding of legislative and presidential elections in the summer of 2026.
Eighteen countries have committed to providing personnel to the anti-gang unit currently being formed. According to the secretary general of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, this force will number 5,500 soldiers.
1.4 million displaced and a severe food crisis
According to a recent UNICEF report, approximately 1.4 million people have been displaced within the country due to violence in the capital, representing more than 10 per cent of the total population, including more than 740,000 children.
Furthermore, approximately 5.7 million people face acute food insecurity, among them 1.2 million children under five years old.
Source: Google News HT — Crime