El Salvador sends 2,000 troops to Haiti after gang attack

El Salvador has deployed more than 2,000 soldiers and military hardware to Haiti following a gang attack on its personnel. President Nayib Bukele posted videos on X on Wednesday showing armed Salvadoran troops patrolling the streets of the Caribbean nation. He directed the local gangs to gather for a fight in the post.

The military deployment was triggered by the disappearance of four Salvadoran aviation technicians on October 18. They were attacked by gang members in Port-au-Prince. Haitian police announced on Tuesday that they located the vehicle used by the group. The burned truck was found in the Santo neighbourhood within the Croix-des-Bouquets community. Authorities have not yet found the four men.

The search operation involved a joint effort. Haitian police worked alongside the United Nations-backed multinational Gang Suppression Force and Salvadoran troops. The GSF is a multinational force created to combat gang violence in Haiti. The discovery of the truck came in an area that gangs have controlled for years.

Bukele has used social media to document the intervention. On Tuesday, he shared footage claiming it showed Salvadoran helicopters firing at gangs that were attacking soldiers from Chad. He stated that the gangs no longer held the upper hand. In a separate post, he said the Salvadoran forces were there to help Haitians free themselves from gang control.

Questions have emerged regarding command and control of the foreign forces. Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, told reporters in New York that only about 200 Salvadoran soldiers fell under the GSF’s jurisdiction. He emphasized that security operations must follow international human rights law. He noted that people's rights need to be respected during these operations.

Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime addressed the public on Tuesday. He assured citizens that the foreign forces operate under Haitian authority. Speaking alongside the Salvadoran commander and other military leaders, he said the international forces came to support the state rather than replace it. He described their role as reinforcing national capacity.

Gang leaders have also reacted to the increased military presence. Wilson Joseph, a leader of the 400 Mawozo gang, told the Associated Press that he wrote to the UN Secretary-General. He requested an opportunity for dialogue. Joseph expressed concern about the killing of civilians due to the surge in fighting.

Haiti has operated without an elected government since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. The country's Provisional Electoral Council announced last month that it would delay national elections. The first round of voting is now scheduled for July 18, 2027. A second round is set for October 4, 2027. Fewer than one million voters are currently registered out of 6.5 million eligible Haitians.

The conflict has strained food security and healthcare access. An international assessment released last month found 5.94 million Haitians facing acute hunger. Roads controlled by gangs have hindered the delivery of aid. Doctors Without Borders reported that 30 people, including women and children, were injured in the eight days following the disappearance of the Salvadorans. Davina Hayles, the MSF head of mission in Haiti, warned that the arrival of additional security forces could lead to more victims and displacement.