Haiti Gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, who is also known as Barbecue, has warned of the possible consequences if the country’s prime minister fails to resign.
According to him, the Carribean country risks facing genocide and and civil war if Ariel Henry does not step down.
“If Ariel Henry doesn’t resign, if the international community continues to support him, we’ll be heading straight for a civil war that will lead to genocide.
“Either Haiti becomes a paradise or a hell for all of us. It’s out of the question for a small group of rich people living in big hotels to decide the fate of people living in working-class neighbourhoods,” Cherizier, 46, said.
Cherizier is a a former police officer. He is under UN sanctions for human rights abuse
This comes at a time when Ariel, who was enroute from Kenya after signing a agreement on the deployment of 1000 Kenyan police officers, was denied entry into the neighbouring republican.
The prime minister was forced to land at Puerto Rico, in US territories.
Last weekend, the gangs stormed two largest prisons in Haiti and freed prisoners.
Ariel has been in power since 2021 following president Jovenel Moise’s assassination. He was supposed to step down in February for fresh elections to be held but he entered into a power deal with the opposition that saw him continue holding office.
