Haitian gangs call for armed overthrow of PM Henry

STORY: Haiti's most powerful gang leader called for the armed overthrow of Prime Minister Ariel Henry on Tuesday (September 19).

Jimmy Cherizier, who is known as "Barbecue", led his group of armed men on a march through Port-au-Prince, urging others to follow suit in the latest escalation in a country undergoing a humanitarian crisis.

Cherizier is a former police officer who now heads a powerful coalition of gangs that control large parts of the capital.

"Every Ghetto will be on the streets every day, and we have nothing to hide from the whole world. They all know that we have weapons. Not only do we mobilize to fight Ariel Henry, we also mobilize the people."

The threat from Cherizier comes as Kenya assesses leading a multinational United Nations-backed force to help Haiti's under-gunned police fight the gangs.

Haitian gangs frequently engage police in gun battles and profit from activities such as extortion and drug trafficking.

They have grown in strength since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

The assassination created a power vacuum, with Henry governing on an interim basis since, with a pledge to hold elections once security is re-established.

The U.N. estimates the outbreak of violence in recent weeks has forced the displacement of more than 19,000 people from Port-au-Prince.