Salvadoran forces have launched aerial strikes in Haiti, targeting the palatial home of Wilson Joseph, also known as Lanmò Sanjou, the leader of the 400 Mawozo syndicate. The gang operates in areas including Croix-des-Bouquets and the Cul-de-Sac Plain in Haiti. The operation was announced by President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele, who shared a video of the air operation on Tuesday.
The military action was undertaken following the disappearance of Salvadoran aviation technicians, who were ambushed and abducted in mid-October. In response, Bukele deployed over 2,000 troops and attack helicopters to Haiti, outside the framework of the United Nations-backed Gang Suppression Force. This move was seemingly endorsed by former US President Donald Trump, who told reporters that Bukele has to do what he has to do to run his country.
The 400 Mawozo syndicate is one of the prominent gangs in Haiti, and its leader Wilson Joseph, or Lanmò Sanjou, has been a key target. Bukele stated that the operation was a promise kept, adding that most of the gang members "ran away without even trying to fight." He described them as cowards. The Salvadoran President has also set his sights on Jimmy Chérizier, a top gang leader and former Haitian National Police officer.
Chérizier, popularly known as Barbecue, heads a paramilitary coalition in Haiti. Another notorious gang leader, Mathias Saintil, was neutralized on November 6 during a law enforcement operation. Saintil led the Boston gang in the Cité Soleil neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital. His demise was celebrated by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, who vowed that the battle to liberate Haiti from the grip of bandits would continue.
The operation by Salvadoran forces has raised questions about its legitimacy and the involvement of external actors. There is no evidence yet that the CIA has backed El Salvador's unilateral operation in Haiti. However, the move has been seen as a significant development in the fight against gang violence in Haiti. The country has been plagued by gang activity, with many residents living in fear.
Prime Minister Fils-Aimé expressed determination to continue the fight against gangs, stating that "the gangs won’t be able to sleep." The government has been working to restore order and stability in the country. The involvement of Salvadoran forces has added a new dimension to the situation, with some questioning the implications of external intervention.
The situation in Haiti remains volatile, with gang violence and instability persisting. The government's efforts to combat the gangs, with the help of external forces, will likely continue to be a key issue in the coming days. The impact of the Salvadoran operation on the ground and the future of gang suppression in Haiti will be closely watched.
Key points
- The Salvadoran forces targeted the mansion of Wilson Joseph, leader of the 400 Mawozo gang in Haiti.
- The operation was undertaken outside the framework of the United Nations-backed Gang Suppression Force.
- The move was seemingly endorsed by former US President Donald Trump.
