HAITI’S feared warlord Barbecue has sent out a chilling threat to the residents of Port-au-Prince as he warns the capital to “brace itself”.
Concerns are rapidly growing that the ruthless gang running rough-shot through Haiti could bring together their army and launch a bloody coup as soon as today.
The National Palace sits untouched around brutal devastation but fears are growing warlord Barbecue could claim it as his todayReuters
ReutersJimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier sent out a chilling threat to the residents of Port-au-Prince as he warned the capital to ‘brace itself’[/caption]
Smoke is seen rising close to the National Palace after frequent attacks by the gangs on the presidential residence
The National Palace has always been seen as the building Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier wants to take most due to it being the home of the president in Haiti.
For weeks, the armed thugs under his command have been marching towards the heavily-fortified residence, storming through neighbourhoods, leaving them all devastated.
Heavy gunfire has also been reported near to the National Palace in recent days as many believe a brutal siege could be imminent.
This idea has been bolstered after Barbecue sent an ominous message to not only his followers but also his enemies through a terrifying video on social media.
He announced: “Whether or not you’re installed, this message is for you: Brace yourselves.”
The palace has already been “bracing” for any trouble for weeks now as cops have been deploying tear gas to push people back.
Soldiers can also be seen holding rifles and patrolling the international airport’s diplomatic entrance.
A planned change of government is set to take place soon resulting in heavy protection needed for those coming in.
Nine new members of the government are expected to come in to try and restore a sense of peace in Haiti through a revamped presidential transition council.
Among those newcomers will include an interim prime minister set to stay in power until the Caribbean island can safely plan an election.
In order for the positions to become official they must be sworn in at the palace however – sparking fears it could be the perfect time for Barbecue and thugs to strike.
No date has been formally announced as of yet but some believe it could be early as in the next 72-hours if not by the end of today.
Bloodthirsty Barbecue has made it his mission to topple the Haitian government since ripping through Port-au-Prince in the past few weeks.
Originally the outrage was linked to ousting former PM Ariel Henry from his position of power but Henry agreed to resign on March 11 prompting the new formation of a government.
But attacks on the capital have only worsened since Henry stepped down.
This has caused the US military to bolster defences at their own embassy over fears the violence might not be ending soon.
Barbecue has previously said he would consider a ceasefire, as well as peace and political talks, as long as he and his gangs are included in the process.
But analysts say he is battling for complete control of the small Caribbean island nation of 11 million.
ReutersBarbecue’s feared gang has already ran rough-shot through much of Port-au-Prince in recent months[/caption]
RexThousands have been killed, raped and kidnapped in Haiti[/caption]
EPAThe palace has been ‘bracing’ for any trouble for weeks now as cops have been patrolling the area and even deploying tear gas to push people back[/caption]
As part of their plan to take the palace, the gun-wielding thugs took over the State University Hospital next-door and turned it into a fortress base to launch further attacks.
The criminal kingpin, who reportedly earned his nickname for burning victims alive, warned recently that more bloodshed would be coming.
Two voice recordings are circulating on social media which locals claim is Barbecue ordering his soldiers to burn houses down in Lower Delmas, an impoverished part of the capital where he grew up.
“Continue burning the houses. Make everybody leave,” a man says in the first audio recording.
In another, he says he has sent jugs of gasoline: “No need to know which house. Burn every house you find. Set the fire.”
What is happening in Haiti?
HAITI has been under a state of emergency since March 4 after heavily armed gangs have laid siege to the capital in a bid to overthrow the government.
Bodies are piling up on the streets of Port-au-Prince which is engulfed in an all-out civil war between more than 200 merciless gangs, a weak police force and recently citizen-led death squads.
Amid the lawless carnage, there are widespread reports of murder, rape, arson and kidnappings as the once warring gangs have loosely unified to lead coordinated attacks.
In early March, Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, the leader of Haiti’s most powerful gang alliance, G9, declared the nation’s ruthless gangs unite to oust interim PM Ariel Henry.
Barbecue – who is famed for burning his victim’s alive – has helped lead attacks on the main airport, the country’s two largest jails, fuel depots and police stations, paralysing the country.
PM Henry has remained stranded abroad and agreed to stand down on March 11. But the violence did not subside.
Instead, the gangs have sought to exploit the chaos to take more territory – with reports stating they now control over 90 per cent of Port-au-Prince.
Gun battles rage on streets, residents have barricaded themselves in their homes and half of Haiti’s population is struggling to feed themselves.
The newest wave of violence to hit the disaster-struck country has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands.
According to the UN, the small Caribbean nation is now at breaking point.
A CITY UNDER SIEGE
For more than two years, warring factions have been tearing Port-au-Prince apart and turned every day into a fight for survival.
But Haiti has been rocked by a surge of unrest since the end of February when armed groups raided a prison, releasing more than 5,000 inmates, and demanded Prime Minister Ariel Henry resign.
Port-au-Prince has been engulfed in an all-out civil war between more than 200 gangs, a weak police force and more recently citizen-led death squads.
The state has been largely absent during the violence and Haiti’s outmanned and outgunned police are ill-equipped against the gangs which are seeking to expand their territorial control of the capital city.
Plans for an international security mission, requested by Henry in 2022, remain on hold pending a new government.
But as the Caribbean nation reels under a state of emergency, civilians have been heavily caught in the crossfires and the violence has killed thousands and displaced tens of thousands.
The UN estimates that over 360,000 people are internally displaced and millions are going hungry as key ports and supply routes remain blocked.
ReutersPolice have been seen holding rifles and patrolling the international airport’s diplomatic entrance[/caption]
RexThe disaster-struck capital has been hit with gang-led violence over the past few months[/caption]
Barbecue has constantly promised more bloodshed will come to Haiti and has stayed true to his word – leading attacks against key state facilities