Haitian security forces have launched a large-scale operation targeting Jimmy Chérizier, alias “Barbecue,” one of the country’s most notorious gang leaders, in the Lower Delmas area of Port-au-Prince.

The Haitian government confirmed that several gang members were killed in the operation. Military drones carrying explosives were reportedly used. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé praised the operation, stating it was led by a new special task force created just two days ago to combat insecurity.

Aged 47, Chérizier leads Viv Ansam (Live Together), a powerful coalition of gangs that dominates large parts of Port-au-Prince. His criminal network has contributed to the breakdown of law and order, the collapse of health services, and a severe food security crisis in Haiti.

It remains unclear whether Kenyan police officers, deployed to Haiti in 2024, were involved in the operation. Last week, a Kenyan officer was killed in a clash with gang members while on patrol with the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support mission.

In 2024, over 5,500 people were killed due to gang-related violence. More than a million people have been displaced by the unrest. Haiti’s transitional presidential council, tasked with restoring democratic order, has made little progress in organizing long-overdue elections.

This latest operation signals a stronger push by Haitian authorities to reclaim control over gang-dominated areas, but whether it will bring lasting stability remains uncertain.

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