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Haitian police conducted a large-scale operation on Saturday in the Lower Delmas area of Port-au-Prince targeting the stronghold of powerful gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, widely known as “Barbecue.” Chérizier leads Viv Ansanm (Live Together), a powerful coalition of gangs that controls significant portions of the capital city.
Several gang members were reportedly killed during the raid, which local sources say involved military drones carrying explosives. The operation was carried out by a special task force established just two days ago by the government to combat insecurity.
Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime praised the assault in a statement on X, saying: “The state will not give in to terror. Haitian people, keep hope: the government stands with you in these difficult times. Victory against the gangs is underway.”
Initial reports that Chérizier was wounded in the operation appear to be incorrect. According to local media, the gang leader narrowly escaped the raid, though several of his lieutenants were shot. In a video circulating after the attack, Chérizier appeared visibly hunted and promised retaliation against police forces.
In a public address published Sunday, Haiti’s first democratically elected leader Jean Bertrand Aristide offered a stark assessment of the country’s situation saying, “[T]he current state cannot save the people without the people.” Aristide drew attention to what he described as the sources of Haiti’s problems, stating: “Too many gangs wearing ties. Too many gangs with guns. Too many holes from bullets in the hull of the ship [of State] that is sinking while we are all in the same boat.”
The former president also renewed his longstanding demand that France make financial reparations for the “ransom money” it extracted from Haiti following the country’s independence from the colonial power. Aristide has maintained that this historical debt is a foundational cause of Haiti’s ongoing struggles.
Aristide’s comments come as Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council prepares for a leadership change on March 7, when Fritz Alphonse Jean is scheduled to replace Leslie Voltaire as the council’s president.
Speaking exclusively to JURIST, Haitian dissident Jean Saint-Vil asserted:
Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council has struggled to organize long-delayed elections amid the security crisis. Council head Leslie Voltaire has pledged to hold elections in November 2025, which would be Haiti’s first since 2016, with plans to establish an elected government by February 2026.
However, the International Crisis Group warned that “polls held in current conditions would be unsafe for candidates and voters alike” and that “rushing toward elections, the transitional government should focus on the nuts and bolts of responsible governance.” The organization cautioned that holding elections under the threat of gang violence could result in very low turnout and allow gangs to manipulate the results by sowing fear in areas under their control.
The post Haiti police launch raid on Port-au-Prince gang stronghold appeared first on JURIST - News.
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Several gang members were reportedly killed during the raid, which local sources say involved military drones carrying explosives. The operation was carried out by a special task force established just two days ago by the government to combat insecurity.
Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime praised the assault in a statement on X, saying: “The state will not give in to terror. Haitian people, keep hope: the government stands with you in these difficult times. Victory against the gangs is underway.”
Initial reports that Chérizier was wounded in the operation appear to be incorrect. According to local media, the gang leader narrowly escaped the raid, though several of his lieutenants were shot. In a video circulating after the attack, Chérizier appeared visibly hunted and promised retaliation against police forces.
In a public address published Sunday, Haiti’s first democratically elected leader Jean Bertrand Aristide offered a stark assessment of the country’s situation saying, “[T]he current state cannot save the people without the people.” Aristide drew attention to what he described as the sources of Haiti’s problems, stating: “Too many gangs wearing ties. Too many gangs with guns. Too many holes from bullets in the hull of the ship [of State] that is sinking while we are all in the same boat.”
The former president also renewed his longstanding demand that France make financial reparations for the “ransom money” it extracted from Haiti following the country’s independence from the colonial power. Aristide has maintained that this historical debt is a foundational cause of Haiti’s ongoing struggles.
Aristide’s comments come as Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council prepares for a leadership change on March 7, when Fritz Alphonse Jean is scheduled to replace Leslie Voltaire as the council’s president.
Speaking exclusively to JURIST, Haitian dissident Jean Saint-Vil asserted:
Saint-Vil’s comments reflect widespread suspicion among Haitians about potential connections between gang leaders and political figures from the Parti Haïtien Tèt Kale (PHTK), the political party of assassinated president Jovenel Moïse that has dominated Haitian politics for years.
Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council has struggled to organize long-delayed elections amid the security crisis. Council head Leslie Voltaire has pledged to hold elections in November 2025, which would be Haiti’s first since 2016, with plans to establish an elected government by February 2026.
However, the International Crisis Group warned that “polls held in current conditions would be unsafe for candidates and voters alike” and that “rushing toward elections, the transitional government should focus on the nuts and bolts of responsible governance.” The organization cautioned that holding elections under the threat of gang violence could result in very low turnout and allow gangs to manipulate the results by sowing fear in areas under their control.
The post Haiti police launch raid on Port-au-Prince gang stronghold appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.