Ex-Police Officer and Gang Leader “Barbecue” Warns Against Abuses by International Armed Forces in Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Jimmy Chérizier, also known as “Barbecue,” a former police officer and considered Haiti’s most powerful gang leader, issued a warning on Wednesday, stating that he would fight against any international armed force deployed to the Caribbean nation if they committed any abuses. Chérizier made this statement during a news conference where he also called on Haitians to mobilize against the government.
Haiti has been grappling with a surge in gang violence, with powerful gangs currently estimated to control 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. In July, Kenya offered to lead a multinational force, and the United States announced plans to propose a resolution in the U.N. Security Council for a non-U.N. multinational mission. Prime Minister Ariel Henry has been advocating for the deployment of a foreign armed force since October to help combat the rampant gang activities.
Chérizier expressed his willingness to welcome a foreign force if their objective was to apprehend corrupt politicians and local police officers involved in illicit arms and ammunition trade. However, he warned that the Haitian people would rise up if any international force repeated the mistakes made by previous U.N. peacekeepers, including sexual abuses and unintentionally introducing cholera into water sources.
“We will fight against them until our last breath,” Chérizier stated. “It will be a fight of the Haitian people to save the dignity of our country.” The United Nations has not provided any comments regarding Chérizier’s statement, as per U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
Chérizier, who has been accused by authorities of orchestrating several massacres and initiating a fuel blockade last year that paralyzing Haiti for almost two months, announced that his group, G9 Family and Allies, is no longer engaged in conflict with another gang known as G-Pep. He emphasized unity and stated, “We became one. We love life a lot.”
The Security Council has imposed sanctions on Chérizier, recognizing his involvement in acts that jeopardize the peace, security, and stability of Haiti, along with serious human rights abuses. Nevertheless, Chérizier called on the Ministry of Education to reopen schools in Cite Soleil and other slums that have been forcibly closed due to the violence perpetrated by warring gangs. This violence has displaced approximately 200,000 Haitians, with their homes being torched by these gangs.
During the news conference held at an outdoor construction site in Port-au-Prince, Chérizier appeared surrounded by several G9 members concealing handguns under their clothes. In previous appearances, they openly carried assault rifles.
The situation in Haiti remains volatile, with the government grappling to establish stability amid widespread gang violence and calls for international assistance. The eventual deployment of a foreign armed force will need to address the concerns raised by Chérizier and ensure the preservation of human rights while restoring peace and security in the nation.