Haiti's Powerful Gang Leader, Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier, Calls for Ousting Prime Minister

In a bold move, Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier, the influential leader of Haiti's 'G9 Family and Allies' coalition of gangs, has called for the overthrow of the nation's Prime Minister, Ariel Henry. Leading armed followers through the streets of Port-au-Prince on September 19, Cherizier rallied his armed gang members, urging fellow Haitians to join the cause against the current government.

During the march, Cherizier announced their mission to challenge Ariel Henry's government by any means necessary, vowing daily demonstrations in various parts of the capital. He emphasized that the fight would involve the use of weapons.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry, serving in an interim capacity, has pledged to hold elections once the security situation in Haiti stabilizes. Since President Jovenal Moise's assassination in July 2021, gangs have taken advantage of the political turmoil, gaining control over significant parts of the capital.

Cherizier, a former police officer, became the first individual sanctioned by the United Nations in 2022 under a new sanctions regime targeting those posing a threat to Haiti's police, security, or stability. Accused of crimes against civilians, including a 2018 massacre in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood of La Saline, Cherizier issued a stark warning to the international community, urging them not to support Ariel Henry and calling for a change in their approach towards Haiti.

Haiti grapples with a pervasive gang issue, with estimates suggesting over 200 gangs operating in the country. The United Nations estimates that at least 1.5 million, half of Port-au-Prince's population, has been affected by violence involving these gangs.