Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier: The former Haiti cop turned gang leader

Armed gangs have tried to seize control of Haiti’s main international airport, exchanging gunfire with police and soldiers in the latest attack on key government sites.

There has been a surge of violent incidents in the nation, which also included a large number of prisoners escaping from the country’s jails.

Former high-ranking police officer turned gang leader, Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier, has taken credit for the increase in violent outbreaks.

During the attack, the Toussaint Louverture International Airport was not in operation and there were no planes or passengers present.

This is the largest assault in the history of Haiti’s airport.

The previous week, there was a brief shooting at the airport during ongoing gang violence. However, the gangs did not breach the airport or take control of it.

Gangs already were estimated to control up to 80% of the capital Port-au-Prince. They are increasingly co-ordinating their actions and choosing once unthinkable targets such as the Central Bank.

Last week, Prime Minister Ariel Henry went on a trip abroad in an effort to maintain support for a United Nations-endorsed security force aimed at stabilizing Haiti amidst its struggle against increasingly influential criminal organizations.

According to the United Nations, Haiti’s National Police is responsible for ensuring the safety of over 11 million people with a total of approximately 9,000 officers. However, they often face challenges and are outnumbered and outmatched.

Shooting was observed in numerous areas of the city. Many residents experienced a loss of internet access, as the main mobile network in Haiti announced that a cable connection had been cut during the violent disturbance.

Following the recent incident of gangs firing upon Haiti’s international airport, the US embassy has announced a suspension of all official trips to the country. On Sunday night, it strongly advised all US citizens to leave the country as soon as possible.

The Biden administration, who has declined to pledge troops to any international force for Haiti but is providing financial and logistical aid, stated that they are closely watching the worsening security conditions with serious worry.

The increase in assaults comes after intense demonstrations that have become more deadly in recent days as the leader of the country visited Kenya to advance the plans for a UN-supported security operation that will be headed by the East African nation.

A previous highly skilled law enforcement member, known as Barbecue, who is now leader of a gang organization, has admitted to orchestrating the recent influx of assaults. The intention is to apprehend the head of Haiti’s police force and government officials, in order to prevent Mr Henry from coming back.

The prime minister, who also happens to be a neurosurgeon, has disregarded requests for him to step down and chose not to respond when questioned about whether he believed it was prudent to return home.

Several of Haiti’s most influential gang leaders have expressed their objective of overthrowing Henry’s leadership.

In the past few years, the nation has been unable to conduct parliamentary and general elections, resulting in a lack of elected officials. Following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, Henry was appointed prime minister with the support of the global community. However, after promising to hold much-awaited general elections by mid-2025, a new wave of aggression began in February.

A cartographic representation of the city of Port-au-Prince in Haiti.

On Monday, the location of Henry was not made known to the public. When questioned in Kenya about the safety of his return to Haiti, Henry nonchalantly shrugged.

Jimmy Chirizier, a former high-ranking member of the police force nicknamed “Barbecue,” and known as one of Haiti’s most influential gang leaders, declared his intention to capture the nation’s police chief and government officials as armed attacks were launched against infrastructure.

Four law enforcement officers lost their lives when their stations were attacked.

Last summer, Cherizier expressed his intention to confront any foreign military force that carries out unjust acts and encouraged the Haitian people to rally against the government.

There are indications that other leaders of gangs have participated in recent assaults.

Johnson Andrï, also known as “Izo” and the head of the 5 Seconds gang, is seen in a TikTok video holding a large mallet in his right hand while gesturing to punch his face with his left hand.

The group led by Izo is seen as an associate of G-Pep, the rival of Barbecue’s gang coalition. However, loyalties have been changing in recent times.

According to a recent report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, the formation of alliances among gangs is a constantly changing process.

The article also mentioned that only the strongest gangs, like Izo and Chïrizier, are typically capable of carrying out activities and earning profits beyond their territory.

Barbecue is the head of G9 Family and Allies, a gang federation responsible for launching devastating attacks that have severely impacted the nation. In 2022, he took over an important fuel terminal in the capital of Port-au-Prince for nearly two months.

There are approximately 200 gangs present in Haiti, with 23 dominant ones known to be active in the metropolitan region of Port-au-Prince.

In recent years, their dominance of the capital has increased from 60% to 80%, according to U.N. officials.

Gangs have gained greater financial autonomy through the illegal trade of weapons and payment of ransom to abductors. This has made them more influential as the government has grown weaker, and the police force, lacking adequate funding and resources, has failed to control them.

“The current gangs possess significantly more military capability compared to a decade ago,” states the report by the Global Initiative. “This has largely been due to the gangs’ success in obtaining high-quality weapons.”

In 2023, a report published by the United Nations revealed that weapons intended for Haitian ports, such as .50 caliber sniper rifles, .308 rifles, and belt-fed machine guns, had been retrieved.

Source: independent.co.uk