El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele shared videos on Wednesday showing Salvadoran soldiers patrolling the streets of Haiti, where they have been deployed amid escalating gang violence. In a post on X, Bukele addressed gang leaders directly, stating, “Gather your gangs so we can go fight with them.”
This military presence follows the ongoing search for four Salvadoran aviation technicians who went missing over two weeks ago. Haitian authorities confirmed they located a burned vehicle related to the technicians, which was discovered in the Santo neighborhood of the Croix-des-Bouquets community, a region under significant gang control.
On Tuesday, images released by the national police depicted the remains of the truck used by the missing men. This discovery coincided with police operations in collaboration with the United Nations-backed multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF) and Salvadoran troops.
Following their disappearance on October 18, Bukele deployed over 2,000 Salvadoran military personnel to Haiti, equipped with military hardware. His government has been notably aggressive in combatting crime at home, implementing strict measures that have led to the imprisonment of tens of thousands of individuals and the declaration of a state of emergency.
In a recent video, Bukele claimed to show Salvadoran military helicopters returning fire against gangs attacking GSF soldiers. He asserted that “the gangs no longer have the upper hand,” and emphasized the role of Salvadoran forces in assisting Haitians in their fight against gang violence.
The deployment of Salvadoran troops has sparked concerns regarding the use of force and accountability. Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, clarified that only about 200 of the Salvadoran soldiers are operating under the GSF’s command. He stressed the importance of conducting security operations within the framework of international human rights law.
While Bukele insists his forces are there to support the Haitian state, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime reassured the public that the international troops serve to reinforce Haiti’s governmental capacity, rather than replace it.
In contrast, Wilson Joseph, the leader of the 400 Mawozo gang, indicated through the Associated Press that he had reached out to the UN Secretary-General for a dialogue opportunity, expressing concerns over civilian casualties amid the violence.
Haiti has not had an elected government since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. The situation has led to challenges in organizing national elections, with the Provisional Electoral Council announcing delays in the electoral schedule. Voter registration efforts have also been hampered by gang control over roads, with less than one million of an estimated 6.5 million eligible voters registered.
The violence has precipitated a food security crisis, with approximately 5.94 million Haitians facing acute hunger, according to a recent assessment. Additionally, Doctors Without Borders reported that an increase in conflict since the Salvadorans’ disappearance has led to injuries among civilians, complicating access to healthcare and exacerbating the humanitarian situation.
As tensions continue, concerns remain about the humanitarian implications and future stability in Haiti amid the increasing presence of foreign military forces.
