One of the most influential gang leaders in Haiti believes that if armed organizations were permitted to participate in negotiations to form a new government, he might think about laying down his weapons.
Most of the capital city of Port-au-Prince is under the influence of factions commanded by Jimmy Chérizier, popularly known as Barbecue.
He said that in the upcoming days, the violence that has engulfed Haiti in recent weeks can get worse.
“We are ready for solutions,” he stated to Sky News nonetheless.
Since March 12, Haiti, a poor country in the Caribbean with a population of nearly 11 million, has been without a prime minister.
After armed gangs prevented him from leaving Kenya, he agreed to bring in a military peacekeeping team in an effort to restore a military peacekeeping force in a bid to restore law and order.
Because of the authority vacuum, gangs have taken advantage of it and increased their influence over large regions of the nation, making some areas essentially lawless.
With support from the US and other Caribbean countries, a Presidential Transitional Council has been formed to develop a plan to bring back democratic governance in Haiti.
The most well-known member of the loose coalition of gangs known as Viv Ansanm (Living Together), which controls around 80% of Port-au-Prince, Mr. Chérizier feels his group ought to be represented at any future negotiations.
He stated to Sky News, “I believe that if the international community presents a comprehensive plan that allows us to gather and discuss without forcing any decisions upon us, then the weapons could be lowered.”
Haiti’s president has expressed his disapproval of the ongoing violence and warned that the crisis could persist if corrupt politicians are not part of the future government. He also criticized Kenyan forces for being considered “aggressors” and “invaders” in the country.
The United Nations has described Haiti’s situation as “cataclysmic,” with over 1,500 deaths and 800 injuries in the first three months of 2024. Gangs are accused of using extreme violence and sexual abuse as punishment and control. Aid groups have reported difficulties in obtaining food and water, with millions facing famine.
Haiti, the poorest nation in the Americas, has experienced chronic instability, dictatorships, and natural disasters. A UN peacekeeping force was established in 2004 but withdrew in 2017. President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in July 2021.
(BBC)
