Haitian security forces launched a coordinated assault this week on the fortified headquarters of notorious gang leader Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier in Port-au-Prince’s Delmas 6 district. The operation, conducted jointly by the Haitian National Police (PNH), Armed Forces of Haiti (FAD’H), and specialized Gang Suppression Force (GSF), targeted the core operational base of Cherizier’s ‘Viv Ansanm’ armed coalition.
Visual evidence from the raid circulated online depicts substantial explosive ordnance detonating at the location, with at least one structure completely demolished and adjacent buildings suffering collateral damage. A massive plume of smoke billowed over the capital neighborhood following the explosion. Official casualty reports remain pending as authorities continue assessing the operation’s outcomes.
The 48-year-old Cherizier, a former police officer turned gang leader, evaded capture during the assault. His Viv Ansanm alliance controls significant portions of Haiti’s capital and stands accused of perpetrating hundreds of killings, sexual violence incidents, and sustained armed confrontations against state security forces. The coalition’s stated objective involves overthrowing the provisional government established after President Jovenel Moise’s July 2021 assassination.
International pressure against Cherizier continues mounting, with both United Nations sanctions and a US$5 million reward from the United States Department of State for information leading to his capture. This security operation coincides with Haiti’s approaching political milestone—the February 7 expiration of the current transitional government’s mandate.
The Caribbean Community’s Eminent Persons Group recently urged Haitian stakeholders to prioritize national patriotism during this critical juncture, emphasizing self-determination for the crisis-stricken nation facing compounded security and governance challenges.