Haitian gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue, has expressed confidence in defeating the Kenyan police force, which is set to begin its peacekeeping mission in Haiti soon.
In an interview with United States-based National Public Radio (NPR) on May 13, Barbecue warned the Kenyan police to expect fierce resistance once the multinational mission commences. He stated that the battle would be prolonged and that international forces would eventually tire and leave without achieving peace.
When questioned about surviving the anticipated intense clashes with the police, Barbecue claimed his survival depended on divine and ancestral protection. "If the Haitian revolutionary Jean-Jacques Dessalines worried about his life, Haiti wouldn't be free today," he remarked.
The gang leader accused the United States government of instigating the conflicts in Haiti, asserting that his death would not bring freedom to the country.
Regarding the presidential transitional council's ability to restore peace, Barbecue was dismissive, stating that the council did not represent the will of the Haitian people but was imposed by foreign powers. "The transitional council is not the will of the Haitian people. This is what Washington wants and this is what they have imposed," he claimed.
Barbecue argued that the gangs were fighting against the wealthy elite, whom he blamed for Haiti's current dire situation.
His comments come as the US military is setting up a camp to host the Kenyan police force ahead of its deployment, which is expected to occur before the end of May, coinciding with President William Ruto's state visit to the US.
Kenya is part of a broader multinational mission involving forces from Jamaica, Chile, Grenada, Paraguay, Burundi, Chad, Nigeria, and Mauritius. These nations have pledged to support the mission to curb violence in Haiti, where gangs are accused of committing widespread killings and sexual assaults. According to a United Nations report, 4,451 killings occurred last year, with 1,554 recorded by March this year.