Haitian Forces Kill Gang Leader and Strike 400 Mawozo
Haitian authorities and Salvadoran troops killed a Boston gang leader and destroyed a 400 Mawozo stronghold during an intensifying offensive in Port-au-Prince.
Haitian security forces, supported by Salvadoran troops and private contractors, launched a series of high-intensity operations in Port-au-Prince. Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, the Prime Minister of Haiti, confirmed the death of Mathias Saintil, leader of the Boston gang, during an operation in the Cité Soleil slum. While police stated Saintil was shot, the National Human Rights Defense Network reported he was killed by an explosive drone.
In a separate strike on Sunday, a police drone task force destroyed a house belonging to Wilson Joseph, leader of the 400 Mawozo gang. The operation killed up to 20 gunmen, though Joseph was not present. The strike followed a public social media request from Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele for the address of Joseph's residence. This escalation follows the October disappearance of four Salvadoran aviation technicians, prompting Bukele to deploy approximately 2,500 troops to Haiti.
The offensive has pushed the 400 Mawozo gang to seek dialogue with the United Nations and the National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration to achieve national reconciliation. However, the government has maintained its aggressive stance. Prime Minister Fils-Aimé is scheduled to visit El Salvador next week to discuss the future of the military intervention, which includes support from the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force and Erik Prince's private security firm, Vectus Global.
