Salvadorian soldiers destroy 400 Mawozo gang headquarters in Haiti
Salvadorian military personnel destroyed the headquarters of the 400 Mawozo gang in Haiti, according to President Nayib Bukele. At least 20 dead according to the Miami Herald.
Salvadorian military operation against 400 Mawozo gang in Port-au-Prince
Salvadorian soldiers deployed in Haiti destroyed the house and "headquarters" of Wilson Joseph, alias Lanmò San Jou, leader of the 400 Mawozo gang, one of the country's main criminal organisations. This is what Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele stated in a message posted on social network X, written in Haitian Creole and accompanied by a video of the operation.
According to Le Temps, this is the first large-scale attack known to have been carried out by Salvadorian troops since their deployment in Haiti at the end of October. Bukele had then sent more than 2,000 military personnel to the island, officially to find four Salvadorian soldiers reported missing following an attack by gang members on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince.
Helicopters and gang members flee
Images released by Bukele show at least three helicopters bearing the Salvadorian flag flying over the targeted area and opening fire repeatedly on the target. Several people are visible fleeing on foot from the edges of the building. Bukele made ironic remarks about the fact that the majority of gang members had fled "without even trying to fight", according to him.
The American daily newspaper Miami Herald reported, citing anonymous sources, that the building was destroyed on Sunday during an operation conducted by the Haitian police with support from Salvadorian soldiers. The newspaper reports at least 20 dead.
Gang leader absent during the assault
The pro-government daily Diario El Salvador clarified that the targeted gang leader "was not in the residence at the time of the operation". Wilson Joseph leads a gang known for its kidnapping and extortion activities. In 2021, the 400 Mawozo group kidnapped 16 American missionaries as well as one Canadian.
Official reactions in Haiti and the Dominican Republic
Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé praised the intervention on X: "I commend the commitment of Salvadorian forces in the fight against gangs." Fils-Aimé leads a country that has been unable for years to stem the violence of criminal gangs controlling vast areas of the capital. The president of neighbouring Dominican Republic also expressed support for the operation, according to Le Temps.
Deployment outside the UN force framework
The majority of personnel sent by El Salvador to Haiti are not part of the gang suppression force (GSF) supported by the UN. This unilateral Salvadorian deployment therefore falls outside the multilateral framework established to attempt to restore security in the country.
Source: Le Temps