An ambush by Kenyan police officers in Haiti forced a gang leader to flee on Sunday night.
The international police contingent led by Kenya raided Baz Delmas, which is the stronghold of Mr Jimmy Cherizier alias Barbecue, forcing him to flee alongside his militia.
The surprise attack, which also saw his base demolished, was conducted by officers attached to the Haiti National Police (HNP) and Kenyan officers who are leading a Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in the Caribbean nation.
Barbecue, a dreaded gang leader who once served as a police officer, leads a gang known as Viv Ansanm — which translates to "Living Together, Fighting United".
Barbecue managed to flee, leaving behind his flattened home and an excavator which had been used to bar outsiders from approaching his base. Also recovered were several vehicles which the gangs used during their operations.
Drone surveillance used to track his movements before the ambush captured him as he escaped with a number of gang members, leaving behind the police operation.
The Sunday night attack took place just three days after a similar ambush was laid in the same area.
In the first ambush, officers retreated — but had studied the terrain and vast area occupied by the gang with the aim of coming back.
On Monday, Mr Godfrey Otunge, who is the commander of the MSS mission in Haiti, confirmed the Sunday ambush, adding that their goal is to ensure normalcy is restored in the gang-infested nation.
He maintained that officers in the mission will support Haitian police in combating gangs, safeguarding critical infrastructure and creating a secure environment which will lead to a General Election.
“MSS is resolute in its mission and will not relent until these perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice. Our commitment to dismantling gang networks and dislodging them from their strongholds remains firm.”
400 Kenyan police officers
Kenya has 400 police officers in Haiti, and is planning to send an additional 600 who completed their training in October.
They are drawn from the General Service Unit (GSU), Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) and the all-female Special Weapon and Tactics Team (SWATT).
Haiti has not held elections since 2016 and has been without a president since Jovenel Moise was assassinated at his home in 2021. The Caribbean country is currently run by a transitional presidential council with a rotational leadership cycle.
Former Prime Minister Garry Conille, who had been in charge of the country since the MSS mission kicked off in June, is no longer in office.
Former Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille (right) briefs the media when he visited the Administration Police Training College in Embakasi accompanied by the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja (left) on October 12, 2024.
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group
His position was taken over by Alix Didier Fils Aime who has promised that he will ensure that peace is restored in Haiti.
