US federal authorities have unveiled charges against Jimmy Cherizier, infamously dubbed "Barbecue," for his role as a gang leader amidst escalating violence in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. The indictment states that Cherizier, in conjunction with US citizen Bazile Richardson, solicited financial support from the Haitian diaspora within the United States to fund gang operations and procure weapons, all in breach of US sanctions.
Cherizier, a former police officer currently evading capture in Haiti, leads a hostile faction known as Viv Ansanm (Live Together). In a bid to locate him, the US has placed a bounty of $5 million (£3.7 million) for information leading to his arrest. The coalition under Cherizier’s command has been linked to numerous heinous acts, including murders, kidnappings, and violent assaults on critical infrastructure.
At a press conference, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro emphasized the severe criminality associated with Cherizier, declaring, "There's a good reason for the $5 million reward; he's a gang leader responsible for heinous human rights abuses, including violence against American citizens in Haiti." Prosecutors have connected Cherizier to the tragic 2018 La Saline massacre, which resulted in 71 fatalities, over 400 destroyed homes, and a slew of sexual violence cases.
Richardson, who has a background in Haiti and was recently apprehended in Texas, is accused of supporting Cherizier's violent enterprise by raising funds intended to empower gang leaders and purchase firearms. "Both men helped bankroll Cherizier's violent criminal enterprise, which is driving a security crisis in Haiti,” Assistant US Attorney General John Eisenberg mentioned.
Earlier this year, the US designated Viv Ansanm as a foreign terrorist organization amid growing concern. Apart from being sanctioned by the US, Cherizier faces restrictions from the United Nations, Canada, and the UK due to his incitement of violence throughout Haiti. Despite potential extradition, Cherizier's influence looms large over the streets, with protection from his loyal followers.
The assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 marked a turning point, plunging the nation— the impoverished capital of the Americas— into deep economic distress, diminishing political authority, and unchecked gang violence. The spiraling gang control in Port-au-Prince has led to a severe erosion of law and order, culminating in a humanitarian meltdown characterized by a food security crisis; the UN estimates that more than half the population faces acute food insecurity, with upwards of a million people being internally displaced. Attempts by a UN-backed Kenyan-led security force to restore stability have, so far, proven inadequate.
