President Donald Trump’s administration has urged Haitians and members of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) to be cautious and ignore Jimmy Cherizier, alias Barbecue’s, call for peace.
In a statement on Monday, September 8, the US Embassy in Haiti revealed that the gang leader was making videos and sharing them under the guise of wanting peace, while in reality, fuelling violence.
While cautioning against falling for such antics, the US government called on the public to help arrest more gang leaders who are currently within and outside the Caribbean nation.
According to the US, the era of the gangs' impunity was over and that Trump's administration would take decisive action against any individual found instigating violence in Haiti.
"Terrorist gangs can make videos and spread lies. They say they want peace, but are the cause of the violence, displacement and destruction of Haiti. Help us catch more criminals in and outside of Haiti. The era of impunity is over!" read the statement by the US government.
The statement by the US Embassy in Haiti comes a week after dreaded gang leader Barbecue called for peace, stating that he was ready to halt the violence should his demands be met.
Barbecue, the head of the Viv Ansanm coalition, one of Haiti's fiercest gangs, announced that his armed men would withdraw from Delmas 30, Solino, Christ Roi and Nazon estates so that everyone in these areas could return to their homes.
While Barbecue's message came as a reprieve for many Haitians and the MSS peacekeepers, the US government immediately dismissed such peace calls as mere trickery.
For many Haitians and the MSS peacekeepers, Barbecue's ceasefire would greatly ease anti-gang operations and reduce overall gang influence.
The US has instead sanctioned four more individuals accused of planning and orchestrating the gang violence in Haiti, with a probe currently underway to arrest them.
Among them is Barbecue, who is accused of orchestrating kidnappings, murders and planning attacks against key government infrastructure within Haiti.
To arrest him, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on August 13 announced that it was offering up to Ksh647 million for anyone who would disclose Barbecue's whereabouts.
