Haiti Gangs Kidnap Four Salvadoran Air Force Members
Haiti gangs ambush international security forces, kidnapping four Salvadoran officials amid escalating violence.
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Haitian gangs ambushed members of an international security force over the weekend, kidnapping four Salvadoran Air Force officials, according to authorities. The incident occurred in Santo, a village in the Croix-des-Bouquets commune, northeast of Port-au-Prince.
Attack and Response
The Gang Suppression Force (GSF), authorized by the U.N. Security Council, confirmed that one of its vehicles came under attack by gang members on Saturday. GSF personnel responded in accordance with established Rules of Engagement, with aerial support provided by the force’s helicopters.
El Salvador’s Armed Forces confirmed that four Salvadoran aircraft technicians were kidnapped during the attack. The officials were aboard the ambushed vehicle when it came under heavy gunfire and explosives. Despite the vehicle catching fire, the four managed to escape. The support helicopters also faced heavy fire but successfully forced the gangs to retreat.
Details and Consequences
Unnamed Haitian government sources reported that the Salvadoran officials were captured by members of the Chen Mechan gang, known as “Mean Dogs” in Haitian Creole. The officials, without informing the Haitian National Police, used Google Maps to visit a store in Santo, after which there has been no news of them. The GSF and Haitian Police launched an operation to locate the missing soldiers, though the Salvadorans may still be held hostage.
The attack occurred just hours before the U.N. Security Council met to discuss the ongoing violence in Haiti. Special Representative Carlos Ruiz Massieu noted that over 1,000 people have been killed and over 100 abducted between July and September. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz condemned the attack, stating that the four men may have survived but remain unaccounted for.
Political and Electoral Context
The ongoing instability and gang violence have led to the postponement of Haiti’s planned December 2026 elections, which have not occurred since the 2016 election of late President Jovenel Moïse. Moïse was assassinated in July 2021. Ruiz Massieu emphasized that announcing election dates without proper feasibility assessments undermines public trust and institutional credibility. He suggested elections could happen next year if security allows.
Source: Breitbart
