In a big win for Kenyan police officers working thousands of kilometers away in Haiti, the United States government has taken major action against Haiti’s most feared gang leader, Jimmy Cherizier, also known as “Barbecue.”
The US government announced criminal charges against Barbecue, accusing him of organizing violence and breaking American laws.
On Tuesday, August 12, US federal prosecutors revealed that Barbecue had been working with a 48-year-old US citizen to raise money from Haitians living abroad. The money, prosecutors say, was meant to buy guns and other weapons.
According to Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg, this plan was part of Barbecue’s violent operations that have caused chaos in Haiti.
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“Cherizier and a US associate sought to raise funds in the United States to bankroll Cherizier’s violent criminal enterprise, which is driving a security crisis in Haiti,” Eisenberg said.
He added, “The National Security Division does not tolerate criminal gang fundraising in the United States, and will continue to pursue those who enable Haiti’s violence and instability.”
To speed up his capture, the US government is offering a huge reward, up to Ksh647 million (about $5 million), for anyone with information on Barbecue’s location.
Barbecue, once a Haitian police officer, is accused of killing many people, kidnapping others, and attacking important government buildings.
If caught, Cherizier will be taken to the US to face several serious charges. He is already under international sanctions from the United Nations, Canada, and Great Britain.
This move is seen as a massive relief for Kenyan police officers serving in the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti. Removing Barbecue from the streets would make their work far easier and weaken the gangs’ power.
The MSS mission, which includes Kenyan officers and Haitian security forces, has been working to reduce gang violence and restore order in the capital city, Port-au-Prince.
MSS spokesperson Jack Ombaka recently said the joint operations have been very successful in protecting people and stabilizing dangerous areas.
Speaking to the press on August 6, Ombaka confirmed that security forces had managed to keep peace during Haiti’s national school examinations, a major achievement in a country where gang violence often disrupts daily life.
“Our teams have worked around the clock to ensure safety in critical zones,” Ombaka said.
MSS officers have also been protecting Haiti’s key facilities, including the main international airport, the seaport, and other important public areas.
For many Kenyans, the news from the US is more than just an international headline, it is proof that their police officers are making a real difference in a foreign land.
Haitian citizens, too, have expressed hope that the combined pressure from Kenyan police, local security forces, and now the US government will finally bring peace to their troubled nation.
Experts say that if Barbecue is captured, gangs in Haiti could lose a major source of leadership and funding.
While the fight is far from over, this latest development is a sign that global cooperation is working, and that criminals, no matter where they hide, can be reached.
For now, Kenyan officers continue their patrols in Port-au-Prince, knowing that their mission might soon get a lot safer if the man known as “Barbecue” is taken down.
