El Salvador Sends 2,000 Troops to Aid Haiti Anti-Gang Mission
El Salvador pledges 2,000 troops to support U.N. anti-gang operations in Haiti amid ongoing violence.
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El Salvador has pledged to send over 2,000 troops to Haiti to support United Nations anti-gang operations and assist in the search for four missing Salvadoran aircraft technicians. The foreign ministry announced the deployment on Wednesday, stating that the mission would be supported by various countries and international organizations.
Missing Technicians and Gang Violence
The four Salvadoran technicians were reported missing on October 18 after their vehicle was ambushed near a gang stronghold. Despite escaping from their armored vehicle after it was damaged by explosives, they have not been heard from since. Haiti, which has been overrun by heavily armed gangs since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, has seen intense fighting in the area where the technicians disappeared.
Rescue Mission and Threats
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele warned the Haitian gangs that there would be severe repercussions if they harmed the missing technicians or interfered with the rescue mission. He emphasized that the situation was serious and that the gangs in Haiti would face consequences if they did not cooperate.
International Cooperation and Concerns
El Salvador’s foreign ministry confirmed that Bukele had spoken with Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime by telephone, informing him of the troop deployment. Fils-Aime’s office confirmed the call but expressed a preference for bilateral coordination and operational cooperation within the framework of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF).
GSF and Electoral Plans
The GSF is a U.N.-authorized multinational security mission aimed at reducing gang violence in Haiti and restoring national government authority. Despite initial challenges, the mission has struggled to reach its optimal strength of around 5,500 foreign police officers. The recent troop deployment from El Salvador is a significant step toward meeting that goal.
Upcoming Elections and Civilian Concerns
The provisional government of Haiti announced plans to hold elections on July 18, followed by a second round in October. These elections, if held, would mark the first in over a decade. Humanitarian groups have raised concerns about the potential for civilian casualties if Salvadoran troops do not closely coordinate with the GSF and Haitian National Police (HNP) before engaging the gangs.
Source: Breitbart
