Vantage | Who is gang leader 'Barbecue' who wants to rule Haiti

As turmoil grips the Caribbean island nation of Haiti, the spotlight shifts to its capital, Port-au-Prince, where gang violence has erupted, leaving the city under siege. Amidst this chaos, Haiti finds itself on the brink of leadership vacuum as Prime Minister Ariel Henry has agreed to resign, a demand made by Haitian gangs.

“After the council of ministers tonight accepted to put into place a transitional presidential council, the members of the council will be picked after agreement with different sectors of the national life. The government I am running will remove itself immediately after the establishment of said council,” said Ariel.

Ariel Henry quits

The unelected status of Prime Minister Henry became a rallying point for the gangs, who deemed him unfit to lead. With his resignation, a power struggle looms large, with one figure at the forefront - Jimmy Cherizier, better known as “Barbecue.”

“If Ariel Henry doesn’t step down, the country will suffer a genocide. If Ariel Henry doesn’t step down, if the international community continues to support Ariel Henry, they will lead us directly into a civil war that will end in genocide," warned Barbecue. “We demand that the choice of the person who is going to lead this country we live in will be made by the Haitian people. We want to make sure the person who is going to lead this country’s wife and children live in Haiti. We want to make sure the people who are going to be ministers in this government’s wives and their children live in the country.”

Barbecue, a former police officer fired in 2018 over alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings, has risen to prominence within Haiti’s underworld. He was allegedly associated with the La Saline massacre in 2018 and faced US sanctions over his involvement. Despite this, Barbecue’s influence only grew after he joined Haiti’s gangs, leading a coalition known as the G9 Family and Allies, which has wreaked havoc with impunity for years.

Rise of Jimmy Cherizier

Initially believed to have ties to former President Jovenel Moise, Barbecue served as an enforcer, maintaining order in the streets and ensuring support for his patron. However, Moise’s assassination in 2021 shifted the dynamics. Ariel Henry assumed power with international support, aiming to restore order, but his efforts proved insufficient.

Two weeks ago, Henry sought international assistance, signing a deal with Kenya to deploy police forces to counter the gangs. However, Barbecue’s opposition to this plan became apparent when Henry left the country, leading to the current upheaval.

Barbecue’s demands for Haitian leadership to be chosen by the people reflect his aspirations for control. Whether directly ruling or holding the families of leaders hostage, Barbecue seeks to exert influence over Haiti’s future governance.

As Haiti braces for what comes next, the fate of Barbecue’s ambitions remains uncertain. Will he succeed in consolidating power, or will his plans face resistance? Only time will tell the direction Haiti takes amidst its ongoing turmoil.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.