US federal authorities have indicted Jimmy Cherizier, a prominent gang leader in Haiti, commonly referred to as "Barbecue". Cherizier leads the gang coalition Viv Ansanm, which reportedly controls significant portions of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Alongside Cherizier, prosecutors have charged Bazile Richardson, a US citizen, for allegedly soliciting financial support from the Haitian diaspora in the US to fund gang operations and procure weapons, in violation of US sanctions.
Cherizier, a once-active police officer, has been evading capture and is a fugitive in Haiti, where the US has placed a $5 million bounty on information leading to his arrest. US Attorney Jeanine Pirro emphasized the severity of the situation, declaring that Cherizier is blamed for numerous violent acts, including attacks against American citizens in Haiti.
The legal complaint against him outlines his supposed involvement in the 2018 La Saline massacre, a brutal incident resulting in 71 fatalities, the destruction of over 400 homes, and various acts of sexual violence. Richardson, who was apprehended in Texas, is described as having helped raise funds to sustain Cherizier’s gang enterprise, which is implicated in escalating violence and chaos in Haiti.
The US government has categorised Viv Ansanm as a foreign terrorist organization due to its violence and has committed to combatting those who exacerbate Haiti’s instability. International sanctions against Cherizier from countries including the United Nations, Canada, and the UK highlight the extensive condemnation of his actions.
Despite his precarious legal standing, Cherizier maintains considerable influence on Haiti's streets, largely due to the safeguarding provided by his gang members. The ongoing volatility in Haiti can be traced back to the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, which has further deteriorated the nation's political and economic conditions, leading to rampant gang warfare and a humanitarian crisis.
Currently, the UN reports approximately 5.7 million Haitians face severe food insecurity, with over one million displaced internally, as gang conflicts have virtually dismantled public safety and health services in the country. A UN-backed Kenyan security force's attempts to restore order in Port-au-Prince have also proven ineffective, reflecting the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address Haiti’s profound issues.
