Renowned Haitian gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, also known as Barbecue, signed a peace treaty on Thursday to put an end to the gang violence that has been affecting the Caribbean nation. According to Le Nouvelliste, a news outlet in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, the peace agreement was signed during a closed-door meeting with other gang leaders led by Cherizier. Following the signing of the deal, some Haitian citizens took to the streets to celebrate the potential end of the violence.
“Residents took to the streets to celebrate this peace. Today, after more than two years,” revealed one of the people who spoke to the publication.
During the meeting, the gang leaders urged the Haitian government to convene a peace meeting with them to address the ongoing chaos in the country.
This is not the first time Cherizier, leader of the G9 Family and Allies gang, has sought peace talks with Prime Minister Garry Conille’s administration. On July 6, he held a press conference where he committed to laying down his arms to initiate a national dialogue aimed at restoring peace.
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“We have decided to publicly announce that our strategy of laying down arms to facilitate national dialogue and promote peace is already written in black and white on our agenda,” said Barbecue.
“We are ready to elect a credible and coherent Haitian citizen in the diaspora to facilitate the dialogue to end this mafia war and facilitate the road to peace in the country,” he added.
The peace agreement arrives amid a heightened crackdown on gang violence by the Kenyan police in Haiti, who have made notable progress in their peacekeeping mission.
Earlier this month, the Kenyan contingent, working alongside Haitian officers, successfully reclaimed an airport previously controlled by armed gangs. However, concerns have been raised about the slow pace of the peacekeepers' efforts in addressing the gangs, who continue to wreak havoc in the country.
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