Haiti PM backs Bukele as Salvadoran troops target gang stronghold

Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime offered public praise to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on Tuesday. The support came after Salvadoran troops assisted in the destruction of a building believed to be the home of a powerful Haitian gang leader. This endorsement highlights the growing cooperation between the two nations in their joint effort to combat organized crime in the Caribbean island nation.

The diplomatic note of support was posted on the social media platform X. It arrives at a critical time, as Bukele has deployed more than 2,000 soldiers into Haiti. This significant military presence has sparked concerns regarding the specific rules of engagement for the contingent. Observers are also questioning the level of coordination between the Salvadoran forces and the United Nations backed Gang Suppression Force, or GSF, which is already operating in the country.

Bukele detailed the operation in a post on X, written in Haitian Creole. He stated that the forces destroyed the house of gang leader Lanmo San Jou, also known as Wilson Joseph, along with the headquarters of the 400 Mawozo gang. The president shared video footage showing at least three helicopters circling overhead and firing on the two-story structure. The building is located in Croix-des-Bouquets, a neighborhood situated near the capital, Port-au-Prince. The video captured residents fleeing the area during the attack.

According to a report from the Miami Herald, the strike actually took place on Sunday. The newspaper noted that a Haitian police task force, backed by Salvadoran troops, conducted the operation. Citing anonymous sources, the report indicated that twenty people died in the attack. This information was published on Monday, providing a clearer timeline of the events that led to Bukele's public announcement on Tuesday.

In his post, Fils-Aime saluted the commitment of the Salvadoran forces in the fight against gangs. He included a screenshot from Bukele's video in his message. The prime minister wrote, "Hats off to President Nayib Bukele..for your support and commitment to the national fight against gangs." He further emphasized the shared objective by adding, "Haiti, El Salvador, GSF: same fight, same determination!"

Pro-government media in El Salvador reported that the gang leader, Wilson Joseph, was not present in the house at the time of the strike. The 400 Mawozo gang is widely known for its involvement in kidnappings and extortion. In 2021, the group abducted 16 US missionaries and one Canadian citizen, an incident that drew significant international attention to the gang's activities.

The decision to target the property was reportedly prompted by a social media user who posted a photograph of the building just days earlier. The user claimed it was the gang headquarters and urged Bukele to destroy it. Bukele responded to the post by asking for the exact address, stating, "we will destroy it." On Tuesday, he declared that the promise had been fulfilled.

Bukele is known for his iron-fisted rule in El Salvador and for his low tolerance of dissent. He has previously referred to himself as the world's coolest dictator. His approach in Haiti mirrors the strategy he employed in his own country, which has been effective in reducing gang power but has also raised allegations of human rights abuses. The broader goal of eliminating Haiti's powerful gangs has become increasingly clear in his recent statements.

Amnesty International urged both countries on Monday to ensure that all operations conducted by Salvadoran forces in Haiti comply with international human rights law. Meanwhile, Dominican President Luis Abinader, whose country shares a land border with Haiti, called for better coordination. He urged El Salvador and the GSF to reach an agreement on their actions. Despite this call for alignment, Abinader offered strong backing to Bukele, stating that his country would continue to support the efforts in logistics and intelligence.

The arrival of thousands of Salvadoran troops since last month has effectively doubled the number of foreign soldiers operating in Haiti. The Caribbean island nation is preparing to hold elections in July and October of next year. These will be the first polls in the country in more than a decade, making the stability provided by the security forces a crucial factor in the political process.