Port-au-Prince, Haiti – The Haitian gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue, has issued a plea for dialogue with the government as Kenyan troops arrive to bolster security in the violence-plagued nation.
Barbecue, a former police officer, delivered his message in a video circulated on Tuesday, coinciding with the arrival of the first contingent of Kenyan police officers. These officers form the initial wave of a 1,000-strong Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission endorsed by the United Nations.
While his motives remain unclear, Barbecue specifically addressed Haiti’s new interim Prime Minister, Garry Conille. He praised Conille’s lack of involvement in past arms distribution and violence, urging him to embrace dialogue as the path to peace.
“We need dialogue today, Prime Minister,” Barbecue declared. “Prove to the world you can make history by pacifying the country, not by repeating the mistakes of the past.”
Barbecue’s stance marks a shift from his previous opposition to the MSS. Local media reported that his gang members had withdrawn from some areas of Port-au-Prince, though threats against the mission haven’t entirely subsided.
Prime Minister Conille, welcoming the Kenyan contingent on Tuesday, expressed optimism for cooperation, viewing their arrival as a step towards stability. He has yet to respond publicly to Barbecue’s dialogue request.
The deployment of the MSS follows a 2022 request from former Prime Minister Ariel Henry, seeking Kenyan assistance in restoring peace.
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