Haiti gang leader vows to fight any foreign armed force and urges revolt against government

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — An ex-police officer considered by many to be Haiti’s most powerful gang leader said Wednesday he would welcome the deployment of an international armed force to the Caribbean country but vowed to fight if it commited any abuses. Jimmy Chérizier, best known as “Barbecue,” also urged Haitians to mobilize against the government. Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who has led Haiti since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, has been pushing for the deployment of a foreign armed force since October to help fight powerful gangs that are estimated to now control 80% of the capital of Port-au-Prince.