Haitian police have initiated a significant operation aimed at dismantling the stronghold of notorious gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, intensifying efforts to restore order in a country grappling with rampant violence and insecurity.
Haitian Police Launch Major Operation Against Gang Leader Jimmy Chérizier
Haitian Police Launch Major Operation Against Gang Leader Jimmy Chérizier
Authorities act with urgency amidst rising gang violence and faltering governance in Port-au-Prince
In a bold move, the Haitian government has announced a large-scale police operation targeting the gang stronghold of Jimmy Chérizier, known as "Barbecue," in the Lower Delmas area of the capital city Port-au-Prince. Reports indicate that several gang members have been killed during this operation, which is bolstered by military drones carrying explosives. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé has praised the action as a significant step taken by a special task force formed just two days prior to combat the deepening insecurity.
Jimmy Chérizier, 47, has emerged as one of the most influential and feared figures in Haiti's gang landscape, leading a coalition known as Viv Ansam (Live Together) that dominates much of the urban territory. However, it remains uncertain whether the Kenyan police, deployed last year to assist Haitian forces in curbing gang violence, are participating in the latest security efforts. The Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support mission faced its challenges too, highlighted by the recent death of a Kenyan officer during a confrontation with gang members on patrol.
The rampant gang control in Port-au-Prince has led to a near-total breakdown of law and order, resulting in the collapse of essential services, including healthcare, and contributing to a dire food security crisis. According to recent statistics, over 5,500 individuals were killed in gang-related violence in Haiti in 2024 alone, with more than a million people displaced from their homes.
As the transitional presidential council in Haiti struggles to organize long-awaited elections, the operation against Chérizier reflects a desperate attempt by authorities to regain control and address the rampant violence that has plagued the nation for years.
Jimmy Chérizier, 47, has emerged as one of the most influential and feared figures in Haiti's gang landscape, leading a coalition known as Viv Ansam (Live Together) that dominates much of the urban territory. However, it remains uncertain whether the Kenyan police, deployed last year to assist Haitian forces in curbing gang violence, are participating in the latest security efforts. The Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support mission faced its challenges too, highlighted by the recent death of a Kenyan officer during a confrontation with gang members on patrol.
The rampant gang control in Port-au-Prince has led to a near-total breakdown of law and order, resulting in the collapse of essential services, including healthcare, and contributing to a dire food security crisis. According to recent statistics, over 5,500 individuals were killed in gang-related violence in Haiti in 2024 alone, with more than a million people displaced from their homes.
As the transitional presidential council in Haiti struggles to organize long-awaited elections, the operation against Chérizier reflects a desperate attempt by authorities to regain control and address the rampant violence that has plagued the nation for years.
