Rabat – The United States has announced criminal charges against Haiti’s Jimmy Cherizier, or Barbecue, one of the most powerful gang lords in the Caribbean nation.
The indictment includes numerous crimes including the fact that he has stolen money from the Haitian diaspora in the US, to pay for weapons and ammunition.
Barbecue is the leader of a coalition of gangs called Via Ansanm, which controls the capital city of Port-Au-Prince in the middle of a violent gang war.
The organization that he leads has been accused of hundreds of crimes including multiple murders, kidnappings, attacks on infrastructure, robbery, rape and terrorism.
US officials officially designated the Viv Ansanm as a terrorist organization last year. But Barbecue has in recent months tried to gain international legitimacy and recognition, presenting his named organization as a political party.
The US is currently offering $5 million for any information that can lead to his arrest, which could lead to his extradition to stand trial in America.
Jeanine Pirro, the US Attorney general, stated: “There’s a good reason that there’s a $5 million reward for information leading to Cherizier’s arrest. He’s a gang leader responsible for heinous human rights abuses, including violence against American citizens in Haiti.”
Two other individuals, Bazile Richardson and Fredo the Lion, have been arrested in the US in connection with the case. They are believed to be responsible for soliciting money from Haitians living abroad to fund gang violence.
Since the assassination of Juvenal Moise, the country has had a complete breakdown of law and order, and education and health services have collapsed.
The country doesn’t have a functioning government or police force, and its capital is one of the most dangerous places in the world.
Despite a UN peacekeeping force supplied by Kenya there has been very little progress in bringing peace back to the country. Therefore, it is extremely unlikely that Barbecue will face justice for his crimes as he is heavily protected by his soldiers.
There are now serious problems in Haiti beyond the gang violence around 5.7 million people, over 50% of the population, now face acute food insecurity.
Barbecue is one of the world’s most powerful and notorious criminals, and this case confirms the numerous human rights abuses that have been committed.
