Haitians Cheer Bukele’s Anti-Gang Forces Amid Violence Crisis
Haitians welcome Salvadoran troops fighting gangs, as violence continues to plague the country.
3 min read
Haitians have welcomed Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s anti-gang forces in a public display of support, as the nation continues to face a severe crisis of gang violence. Crowds gathered in the streets, chanting Bukele’s name and handing out water bottles to his soldiers, marking a rare moment of solidarity between the two nations.
The footage, obtained by Visegrad 24, shows Haitians cheering as Bukele’s personnel moved through the streets, with many chanting the Salvadoran leader’s name. This apparent show of support comes amid ongoing gang violence that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced over a million people. At least 26 gangs are active in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, according to recent reports.
Videos of citizens handing out water bottles to Salvadoran soldiers have circulated on Facebook, highlighting the growing camaraderie between the two countries. Bukele had initially deployed soldiers to Haiti in early 2025 to combat the rampant gang crisis, according to El Salvador News. Several Salvadoran soldiers working with the United Nations’ Gang Suppression Force (GSF) were kidnapped by gang members on October 18, prompting Bukele to send an additional 2,000 troops to the region on October 29.
As Salvadoran soldiers engaged in combat operations, Bukele addressed the Haitian people in a Tuesday X post in Haitian Creole, stating, “We are people with the same courage as you. We must stand up, take back control of our communities, and put under our control those who are making us endure all this pain, all this suffering.”
Pèp ayisyen, Dessalines te libere Ayiti, men kèk moun ki te bò kote l te trayi l epi touye l. Moun ki te sanble avè l, ki te pale menm lang avè l, men ki pa t gen menm prensip avè l. Se te trèt ki t ap chèche sèlman avantaj pèsonèl yo, e ki te plonje Ayiti nan plizyè jenerasyon soufrans ak mizè. Trèt sa yo toujou egziste ann Ayiti. Yo pa eritye Dessalines, yo se eritye trèt ki te asasinen l yo e ki te detwi eritaj li. Genyen ki manm gang, gen lòt ki finanse gang yo oswa ki ba yo zam, e gen kèk ladan yo k ap fè tout sa yo kapab pou anpeche pèp ayisyen an jwenn libète li. Wi, anpil etranje te piye Ayiti, men anpil Ayisyen te fè menm bagay la tou. Yo te kolabore ak etranje sa yo, sèvi ak zam yo, vann dwòg yo, kontwole teritwa pou yo, epi fè pèp la sibi soufrans moun pa menm ka imajine. Èske nou panse etranje sa yo t ap kapab fè tout bagay sa yo san èd moun sa yo? Kiyès k ap lonje zam sou nou? Kiyès k ap touye moun nou renmen yo? Kiyès ki vòlè kay nou ak byen nou yo, si se pa menm kalite bandi trèt ak sa yo ki te trayi epi asasinen Dessalines? Nou kapab ede nou bat yo, men nou pa anvayisè. Nou se moun ki gen kouraj menm jan ak nou. Fòk nou leve kanpe, reprann kontwòl kominote nou yo, epi mete moun k ap fè nou sibi tout doulè sa yo, tout soufrans sa yo, anba kontwòl nou. N ap la menm bò kote nou. N ap ede nou reprann peyi nou anba men trèt ki trayi eritaj Dessalines yo. Epi, finalman, Ayiti ap lib.
Haiti’s gang problem has become a global concern, with its impact extending beyond its borders. The situation underscores the urgent need for international cooperation in addressing organized crime and restoring stability to the region.
Source: Daily Caller
