Haitian security forces have launched a large-scale offensive in Port-au-Prince, targeting a shantytown controlled by gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, widely known as “Barbecue.”
Police Operation in Gang-Controlled Area
The operation, focused on Lower Delmas, has reportedly resulted in several gang members being killed, according to Haitian authorities.
Local reports indicate that military drones carrying explosives are being used to support the operation, marking an escalation in the government’s efforts to reclaim territory from criminal groups.
Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé praised the assault, crediting it to a newly established special task force formed just two days ago to combat gang-related violence.
Chérizier, 47, leads Viv Ansam (Live Together), a powerful gang coalition that controls large sections of Port-au-Prince, contributing to the near-total collapse of security in the capital.
Unclear Role of Kenyan Police
It remains uncertain whether Kenyan police officers, deployed to Haiti last year as part of the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support mission (MSSM), are involved in the current operation.
Last week, a Kenyan officer patrolling with the MSSM was killed in a clash with gang members, highlighting the dangers international forces face in Haiti’s volatile environment.
Gangs Deepen Crisis in Haiti
Gang control in Port-au-Prince has led to a near breakdown of law and order, the collapse of healthcare services, and worsening food insecurity.
In 2024 alone, more than 5,500 people were killed in gang-related violence, and over one million Haitians have been forced to flee their homes, according to humanitarian organizations.
Political Uncertainty and Delayed Elections
Despite efforts to restore stability, Haiti’s transitional presidential council, established to re-establish democratic order, has made little progress in organizing the country’s long-overdue elections.
The latest security operation signals the government’s renewed push to regain control from criminal organizations, but whether it will lead to long-term stability remains to be seen.
