Haiti Gang Leader Barbecue Speaks as Kenyan Blood Spills in Gang War

Notorious Haiti gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier has broken his silence in a bombshell interview just weeks after the brutal killings of two Kenyan police officers. The leader of the Viv Ansanm gang, which controls most of Haiti’s territory, claimed he is inspired by former US President Donald Trump. Barbecue likened himself to Trump, saying he too wants to “drain the swamp.” But his method isn’t politics—it’s war. As Kenya mourns its fallen heroes, Barbecue is defending his bloody rise as a patriotic mission. The world watches in horror as Haiti burns and Barbecue justifies the chaos. Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier, ex-police officer and leader of the G9 gang alliance, stands with gang members after a press briefing in Delmas 6, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 5, 2024. REUTERS/Ralph Tedy Erol Haiti Gang Leader Barbecue Defends Bloody Mission in Latest Interview In a shocking interview aired by Dateline , Jimmy Cherizier , widely known as Barbecue, defended the violent grip he holds over Haiti. Speaking unapologetically, Barbecue compared himself to Donald Trump and said his gang’s mission was to cleanse Haiti of corruption and reclaim it for the people. “Donald Trump is a patriot; he loves his country,” Barbecue said. “We must show that we are patriots and nationalists and do what's right for our country. I think we have something in common.” Barbecue heads the Viv Ansanm gang alliance, a group now labeled as a terrorist organization by the United States. The label came on May 2, 2025, as international pressure mounted following months of spiraling violence. Barbecue’s gang is accused of human rights violations, executions, rape, and mass displacement. Despite being one of Haiti’s most feared figures, Barbecue insists he wants peace. “I want to resolve the problem in a serious way, but the people who are in power don't want to resolve the problem,” he claimed during the interview. But peace is not what the people of Haiti are experiencing. So far in 2025, over 1,600 people have died due to gang violence in Haiti. The UN reports show a staggering 5,000 deaths and more than a million people displaced in 2024 alone. Entire communities have been wiped out, and government control is a distant memory. Barbecue claims to be fighting for the poor, yet his gang rules with fear, guns, and blood. Kenya Police in Haiti [Photo/Courtesy] Kenyan Lives Lost as Haiti Mission Turns Deadly As Barbecue speaks of justice and patriotism, Kenya mourns the lives of its police officers who died far from home. On February 23, 2025, the Multinational Support System (MSS) confirmed the death of the first Kenyan police officer in Haiti. He was wounded during an operation in Ségur-Savien in the Artibonite department. Despite being airlifted to Aspen Level 2 Hospital, he died from his injuries. "One of our MSS officers from the Kenyan contingent was injured during an operation... but, unfortunately, succumbed to the injuries," the MSS statement read. Just a month later, on March 25, another Kenyan officer was killed in the Lower Artibonite region, about 92 kilometers from Port-au-Prince. However, his body has not been recovered. A video clip suspected to show his final moments circulated online, further traumatizing the families of the Kenyan contingent. The National Police Service has yet to confirm the second death officially, but evidence suggests that the officer was killed in the line of duty. These Kenyan officers were part of the international mission deployed to support Haiti’s failing police system. Kenya had committed troops to the US-backed initiative, a bold move that President William Ruto defended as a moral and Pan-African obligation. Gang Rule Tightens Grip as Haiti Teeters on Collapse While Barbecue parades his vision of nationalism, his reality is destruction. He now claims to control 85 percent of Haiti’s territory. In these areas, law enforcement is absent, and the rule of law is replaced by brute force. Hospitals have shut down. Schools are closed. Even humanitarian workers cannot safely operate. Barbecue's bold media appearance is not just a message to Haitians—it is a challenge to the world. He is signaling that despite sanctions, designations, and condemnation, he remains untouchable. By drawing comparisons with Donald Trump, Barbecue is trying to frame himself as a misunderstood patriot. But critics say that comparison is a dangerous distraction from the atrocities his gangs commit daily. The people of Haiti continue to suffer under his rule. Gunshots replace school bells. Machetes replace governance. And the international community’s delayed response is costing lives. Kenya’s involvement in Haiti was meant to restore order. Instead, it has exposed its police force to a war with no clear frontlines. As Barbecue justifies his cause on camera, two Kenyan families are left without answers and without their sons.