Daily Mirror

DEAL WITH THE DEVIL

Gang lord so hungry for power over Haiti he’s vowed to do a..

- CHRISTOPHE­R BUCKTIN US Editor Chris.bucktin@mirror.co.uk @DailyMirro­r

EVERY few minutes, the booming rhythm of gunfire echoes around the streets of Port-au-Prince, providing a sinister backdrop to life for those in the embattled city.

As the government crumbles, gangs reign supreme in Haiti’s capital, controllin­g 80% of the urban sprawl.

Those areas still not in the grip of killer hit squads are left to fend for themselves in this nightmare that threatens to turn into a humanitari­an crisis.

And where power often lies in the hands of those who wield violence with impunity, gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, 47, has emerged as a symbol of authority.

The former elite police officer commands the bulk of the gunmen, stirring up anarchy in the capital and vowing to fight for control at all costs.

He told supporters as his cohorts destroyed police stations and other state buildings: “I am ready to make an alliance with the devil… ready to sleep in the same bed as the devil.”

Some claim the riflewield­ing mobster’s nickname, Barbecue, comes from his penchant for setting his victims on fire.

But he says it’s what his mum called him as a boy.

Chérizier, who is classed by some as a hero, likens himself to Martin Luther King.

He was expelled from the police in 2018 for alleged ties to horrific crimes, including a massacre in the La Saline slums when 71 civilians were killed, seven women were raped and 400 homes were burnt down.

Chérizier, who denied any wrongdoing, went on to take over the G9 Family gang coalition, which controls many of the city’s streets and slums.

For decades, Haiti has suffered misrule and teetered on the brink of unrest. The nation was notorious from the 1950s to the 1980s for the regimes of bloodthirs­ty father and son dictators Papa Doc and Baby Doc Duvalier and the Tontons Macoute secret police.

The unpreceden­ted scale of the recent gang violence has plunged Haiti into yet more chaos.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned this week out of fear.

His announceme­nt and the

It’s not about wanting them at the table or not.. they may just take the table

ROBERT FATTON ON HOW POWERFUL THE GANGS ARE

creation of a transition­al presidenti­al council has only exacerbate­d the power struggle among the Caribbean nation’s political elite.

But while politician­s jockey for position, Chérizier has elbowed his way into the race, demanding recognitio­n and a seat at the table in shaping Haiti’s future.

Robert Fatton, a Haitian politics expert at the University of Virginia in the US, said: “Even if you have a different kind of government, the reality is you need to talk to the gangs. If they have that supremacy,

and there is no countervai­ling force, it’s no longer a question of if you want them at the table. They may just take the table.”

The gangs, once intertwine­d with the political and economic elite, have grown increasing­ly independen­t, financing their operh ations through nefarious means such as kidnapping ransoms.

With access to sophistiry, cated weaponry including belt-fed machine guns, Chérizier’s men have effectivel­y neut tralised the underfunde­d police force.

Gang activity in Haiti is vast. Over 200 of them are estimated to operate in the

nation. The G9 Family led by Chérizier is one of the two main coalitions that stand out. Renata Segura, of think-tank the Internatio­nal Crisis Group, said: “Gangs have become stronger and have the upper hand in terms of security… We are very concerned.” The organisati­ons, comprised of many smaller gangs, operate with impunity, terrorisin­g the streets and challengin­g the authority of the state. There were around 5,000 gang-related killings in the past year, with many more people being displaced. Haiti’s government has declared a state of emergency, citing the “deteriorat­ion of security” and the “escalating violent criminal acts by armed gangs”.

The crimes include widespread looting and attacks on children.

The storming of the nation’s two largest jails last weekend, resulting in the escape of thousands of inmates, was a reminder of the precarious situation.

Over 300,000 civilians have abandoned their homes in the search for sanctuary from the violence.

Millions face acute food shortages and there could be a famine.

The United Nations has warned of a looming humanitari­an crisis.

The inability of the internatio­nal community to effectivel­y address the causes of Haiti’s woes has made the situation worse, leaving the country close to collapse.

Mr Henry acknowledg­ed the futility of his efforts to govern amid the turmoil. He said: “The government I’m running cannot remain insensitiv­e in front of this situation.

“There is no sacrifice that is too big for our country.

“The government I’m running will remove itself immediatel­y after the installati­on of the council.”

He has fled the country. He was told by the Dominican Republic, which borders Haiti, that he is not welcome there either. Instead, he has gone to Puerto Rico.

The Dominican Republic’s president Luis Abinader said: “The presence of the Haitian prime minister in the Dominican Republic is not considered appropriat­e.

“This decision reflects the position of the Dominican government to safeguard its national security.”

He has threatened to close the border. Thousands have crossed from Haiti to the Dominican Republic, a nation that attracts 200,000 British tourists each year.

There were violent protests in Haiti demanding the resignatio­n of Mr Henry, who became prime minister after the assassinat­ion of President Jovenel Moise in 2021.

Mr Henry first pledged to step down by early February, then later said the nation’s security must be re-establishe­d first to ensure fair elections in 2025. But as the violence ramped up, he was forced out.

Chérizier intends to fill the void. Shortly before Mr Henry announced his resignatio­n and officials revealed the creation of the transition­al council, Chérizier rejected any solution backed by the internatio­nal community.

He said: “It’s the Haitian people who know what they’re going through. The people are going to take destiny into their own hands and choose who will govern them.”

With a hold on power and a willingnes­s to use violence to maintain it, Chérizier is a potent symbol of Haiti’s descent into darkness.

 ?? ?? ARME THUG Chérizie with ga the cap
ARME THUG Chérizie with ga the cap
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 ?? ?? DEMAND Anti-Henry protest last week
DEMAND Anti-Henry protest last week
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 ?? ?? ED GS er ng in pital
MARCH Demo in Port-au-Prince that called for PM to quit
ED GS er ng in pital MARCH Demo in Port-au-Prince that called for PM to quit
 ?? OUSTED PM Ariel Henry ??
OUSTED PM Ariel Henry

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